Strengthening US-Israeli relations to benefit America's interests - President Bill Clinton, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin speeches - includes statement by Secretary of State Warren Christopher on meeting with Rabin - Transcript

President Clinton: It is a great pleasure for me to welcome Prime Minister Rabin back to Washington. Since we first met here last August, much has changed. But one thing I can say definitely will never change is the unique bond that unites the United States and Israel. It is a bond that goes back to the founding of the state of Israel and beyond, based on shared values and shared ideals.

Israel's democracy is the bedrock on which our relationship stands. It's a shining example for people around the world who are on the front line of the struggle for democracy in their own lands. Our relationship is also based on our common interest in a more stable and peaceful Middle East--a Middle East that will finally accord Israel the recognition and acceptance that its people have yearned for [for] so long and have been too long denied; a Middle East that will know greater democracy for all its peoples.

I believe strongly in the benefit to American interests from strengthened relationships with Israel. Our talks today have been conducted in that context. We have begun a dialogue intended to raise our relationship to a new level of strategic partnership--partners in the pursuit of peace; partners in the pursuit of security.

We focus today on our common objective of turning 1993 into a year of peace-making in the Middle East. Prime Minister Rabin has made clear to me today that pursuing peace with security is his highest mission. I have pledged that my Administration will be active in helping the parties to achieve that end.

At the same time, Prime Minister Rabin and I agree that our common objective should be real, lasting, just, and comprehensive peace, based on [UN Security Council] Resolutions 242 and 338. It must involve full normalization, diplomatic relations, open borders, commerce, tourism--the human bonds that are both the fruits and the best guarantee of peace. And Israel's security must be assured. The Israeli people cannot be expected to make peace unless they feel secure, and they cannot be expected to feel secure unless they come to know real peace.

Those like Prime Minister Rabin who genuinely seek peace in the Middle East will find in me and my Administration a full partner. But those who seek to subvert the peace process will find zero tolerance here for their deplorable acts of violence and terrorism.

Prime Minister Rabin has told me that he is prepared to take risks for peace. He has told his own people the same thing. I have told him that our role is to help to minimize those risks. We will do that by further reinforcing our commitment to maintaining Israel's qualitative military edge. Another way we can strengthen Israel and the United States is to combine the skills of its people with those of our own.

I am pleased to announce today the establishment of a US-Israel science and technology commission, chaired on the American side by our Secretary of Commerce, Ron Brown. The commission will enhance cooperation to create technology-based jobs for the 21st century in both Israel and the United States. Our economies will also benefit from a lifting of the Arab boycott. And I hope that this boycott can end soon.

Prime Minister Rabin, this year will be a year of enhanced relations between our countries. It should also be a year of peace in the Middle East, as you have declared. We have a historic responsibility and a historic opportunity. We stand here together today resolved not to let that opportunity pass.

Prime Minister Rabin: President Clinton, in just a few days I will return to Israel, but I know, and will tell everyone in my country, Israel has a friend in the White House. Our home is many miles away, but, Mr. President, we feel very close. We thank you for the hours we spent with you and your team, for the atmosphere of friendship, and the openness and the depth of our discussions. The leadership which you have displayed in coping with America's domestic problems is inspiring and stands out like a beacon in the night.

Today, we were happy to learn that, at the same time, you are also willing to invest efforts in promoting peace and stability in the Middle East. In this effort, Mr. President, you will find us to be full partners. You are aware that no one wants peace more than [we] and that there is no country more resolved to defend itself when necessary. We are veterans of many wars. And, today, we say, no more blood and tears. We now wish to experience lasting and meaningful peace.

In our talks today, I presented to you Israel's approach to peace-making, and we are willing to take upon ourselves risks for peace. But we are determined to protect our security. Peace has many enemies. Terror is used by the enemies of peace in an effort to undermine it. We will combat it while we continue to seek a solution that will lead to peace.

Since the formation of my government, we have invested efforts in trying to advance toward peace in the framework of the Madrid formula. We introduced new ideas in the negotiation tracks with Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and the Palestinians. Some progress has been made, but more is needed in order to come to agreement. We are ready for compromise, but compromises cannot be one-sided. We call on our partners, the Arab states, the Palestinians from the territories, to seize the moment to return to the negotiating table so that we can use this historic opportunity. We call upon them to respond openly and willingly to our positions. Our children and grandchildren in Jerusalem and the Arab children and grandchildren in Damascus, Beirut, Amman, and elsewhere in the Arab world will not forgive us if we all fail to act now. We have heard today with satisfaction, Mr. President, your concept of the role of the full partner as an intermediary.

We shall continue our direct talks with our Arab neighbors. But in order to expedite the dialogue between the parties, we welcome your good offices and hope to rely on your role as facilitator.

President Clinton, we are deeply indebted to you and to your predecessors who helped us in hours of need. We do appreciate and greatly value the decision to maintain the current level of aid to Israel. This decision will help us to integrate new immigrants into our society and to bear the heavy burden of our security.

You know, [Mr.] President, that we will not be able to win the battle for peace without a qualitative edge. Therefore, I wish to thank you and your colleagues on behalf of the Israeli soldiers and their parents and the citizens of Israel for your decision to help to maintain that edge.

Moreover, such a qualitative edge enables the Israeli Defense Forces to contribute to the overall effort to maintain stability in our stormy region. The decision made today to raise the level of strategic dialogue between our two countries will open new doors of opportunity. The fact that [in] the next months we will renew the memorandum of agreement between us for 5 more years, and that we do it as a matter of course is a proof of the kind of mutually beneficial relationships that we enjoy. The formation of new high-level forum[s] for strategic dialogue will further upgrade this relationship.

We will also have a turn in the near future with much urgency to address the struggle against various kinds of fanaticism, which give berth to murderous terror, the kind that recently landed even on these shores. We must institutionalize our dialogue and include all free countries in consultations on the ways to curb the threatening extremism.

We attach much importance to the decision made today to create the high-level joint commission for the development of projects of science and technology. The investment in research and industrial applications in Israel and in America will explore new frontiers of knowledge. And they are a telling example of how our two countries can mutually benefit from this cooperation.

President Clinton, thank you for your invitation and reception, for the warmth on a wintery day, and for your good will. I came from Jerusalem, the city of the prophets. I return to Jerusalem, the city that witnessed so many wars and wants so dearly peace, because she knows that in war there are no winners and in peace no losers.

Secretary Christopher Meets With Israeli Prime Minister Rabin

Statement by Secretary Christopher, released by the Office of the Assistant Secretary/Spokesman, Washington, DC, March 16, 1993.

In light of his announced early departure, it was my pleasure to pay a courtesy call this afternoon on Prime Minister Rabin following his official meetings with President Clinton, the Vice President, myself, Secretary [of Defense] Aspin, and other members of the Administration.

We reviewed the results of the very productive talks we had on a broad range of issues and how we plan to follow up on these discussions to enhance our close bilateral relationship and move forward on the Arab-Israeli peace process. Both the President and I are very pleased with the positive tone and substance of our discussions with the Prime Minister.

I regret that the Prime Minister is going to have to cut short his visit to the United States. And let me say here that we are deeply troubled by the mounting violence and acts of terrorism. Those who carry out these acts of violence are seeking to undermine the hopes and prospects for peace. They won't succeed.

Violence and terrorism don't work and will never work. Negotiations do work and can produce peace and reconciliation. In this respect, we urge all the parties to return to the negotiations on April 20.

Prime Minister Rabin, the other parties to the peace process, and President Clinton have been working hard to end the violence that has been so much a part of the Middle East landscape. It's time to end violence and promote peace, to give the next generation a reason to hope and not to hate, and to make reconciliation and not continued conflict the hallmark of a new Middle East.

The peace process provides us with the best opportunity to build this new Middle East. We call on all in the region to look to the future and seize this historic opportunity for peace.

COPYRIGHT 1993 U.S. Government Printing Office
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