November 12, 2004

Prime Minister Sharon's Speech to conference for Advancement of Export & Int'l. Cooperation (11.11.2004)

...A year ago I implied here for the first time that we were exploring a plan to help Israel confront the political deadlock in which we found ourselves. This plan - the Disengagement Plan - was so far approved by both the Government and the Knesset.

The Disengagement Plan is a unilateral Israeli step, designed first and foremost to improve Israel's security and stabilize the political situation. The need for it arose following the Palestinian Authority's complete failure to carry out its commitments, in accordance with the first phase of the Roadmap. This plan has yielded a series of unprecedented political achievements for Israel which will help us protect our vital interests in the future, i.e. preventing the entry of Palestinian refugees into Israel and the keeping of major Israeli population centers as part of the State of Israel, and more. It is important to remember that these achievements are an inseparable part of the Disengagement Plan, and their fulfillment is, of course, conditioned on Israel's implementation of the plan. Whoever wishes to waive those achievements of the understanding I reached with President Bush, will seek different solutions. So will whoever does not want to reach an agreement with the Palestinians. I do want to reach an agreement, and will make every effort to do so. And we will.

If after the "Arafat era" there is a different, serious and responsible leadership which will carry out its commitments under the Roadmap - cessation of terrorism, violence and incitement, the dismantling of terror organizations and the implementation of governmental reforms - there can be a potential opportunity to coordinate different measures with that leadership and even renew the political negotiations.

Israel is a peace-seeking nation, and I hope that the Palestinians will quickly reorganize, in order that we may renew negotiations with them. However, as long as there are no real steps to fight terrorism and dismantle its infrastructures, there will be no change in Israel's policy. Israel will proceed with the Disengagement Plan in accordance with the timetables which were set...