Distinguished Guests,
Unfortunate circumstances have led
to my appearance before you here this evening in place
of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Two years ago, at this
Conference, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon delivered his
speech later known as the "Herzliya
Speech", the speech in
which he announced the
Disengagement Plan.
From this place, one of our greatest commanders embarked
on the most dramatic and significant, campaign of his
life, the diplomatic, public and political campaign of
the Disengagement Plan. That speech, and the
Disengagement Plan which followed, are milestones in the
history of the State of Israel.
I had the honor working beside Ariel Sharon throughout
this bold political process. I accompanied him during
the long months of internal conflict and confrontation.
I witnessed how he withstood the supreme test faced by
every leader: the temptation to preserve the status quo
and not take the risks even if these could ensure a
better future. Arik Sharon did not act in this manner.
His policy always prioritized initiative over inaction,
breakthrough over the monotonous route. He knew it was
better for Israel to initiate political steps, and not
be dragged into dangerous moves forced on it by others.
The State of Israel is still a young nation. There are
many more steps we must take in order to build a ethical
society with strong values: building a value-based
education system, infusing our lives with Jewish
content, strengthening our connection to the Jews of the
Diaspora, shaping a system of equal opportunities with
the Arab minority, based on rights and responsibilities,
and developing a strong, just, compassionate and
reactive economy. However, there is no doubt that the
most important and dramatic step we face is the
determination of permanent borders of the State of
Israel, to ensure the Jewish majority in the country.
Zeev Jabotinsky defined the importance of a Jewish
majority in his insightful and keen way: "The term
'Jewish nation' is absolutely clear: it means a Jewish
majority. With this, Zionism began, and it is the basis
of its existence, it will continue to work towards its
fulfillment or it will be lost."
The existence of a Jewish majority in the State of
Israel cannot be maintained with the continued control
over the Palestinian population in Judea, Samaria and
the Gaza Strip. We firmly stand by the historic right of
the people of Israel to the entire Land of Israel. Every
hill in Samaria and every valley in Judea is part of our
historic homeland. We do not forget this, not even for
one moment. However, the choice between the desire to
allow every Jew to live anywhere in the Land of Israel
to the existence of the State of Israel as a Jewish
country - obligates relinquishing parts of the Land of
Israel. This is not a relinquishing of the Zionist idea,
rather the essential realization of the Zionist goal -
ensuring the existence of a Jewish and democratic state
in the Land of Israel.
In order to ensure the existence of a Jewish national
homeland, we will not be able to continue ruling over
the territories in which the majority of the Palestinian
population lives. We must create a clear boundary as
soon as possible, one which will reflect the demographic
reality on the ground. Israel will maintain control over
the security zones, the Jewish settlement blocs, and
those places which have supreme national importance to
the Jewish people, first and foremost a united Jerusalem
under Israeli sovereignty. There can be no Jewish state
without the capital of Jerusalem at its center.
This is the path Prime Minister Ariel Sharon announced
several years ago. We - who were his partners in its
formation - worked with him in order to establish a new
public movement, which will determine our path in the
coming years, and which will propel Israel forward.
The existence of two nations, one
Jewish and one Palestinian, is the full solution to all
the national aspirations and problems of each of the
peoples, including the issue of refugees who will be
absorbed solely in a Palestinian state. We will not
allow the entry of Palestinian refugees into the State
of Israel. This is our clear stance, which is backed by
the unequivocal American position expressed in the
United States President's letter of April 2004, to the
Prime Minister. The only way to achieve this goal is the
full implementation of the
Roadmap,
and of
President Bush's vision of June
2002.
The Roadmap is based on a simple and just idea: if the
Palestinians abandon the path of terror, and stop their
war against the citizens of Israel, they can receive
national independence in a Palestinian state with
temporary borders, even before all the complicated
issues connected to a final agreement are resolved. All
these issues will be resolved later during negotiations
between the two countries, in the accepted manner in
which countries resolve their differences.
On the eve of elections in the institutions of the
Palestinian Authority, I say here, on behalf of the
Government of Israel, that we will uphold all the
obligations we have taken upon ourselves in the
framework of the Roadmap, and we demand that the
leadership in Ramallah do likewise.
Israel has already proven, including through the
Disengagement, that it is prepared to advance peace. It
will continue to act so in relation to the commitments
it has taken upon itself, in exchange for Palestinian
commitments. This includes: limiting construction in the
settlements, improving the quality of life of the
Palestinian population, and dismantling unauthorized
outposts.
The Government of Israel will not be deterred by the
threats of a minority of lawbreakers. The unauthorized
outposts will be dismantled, and I have already given
the appropriate instructions in this regard to our
security forces and those entrusted with upholding the
law. We will forcefully defend the values of the rule of
law, even when attacked from within.
We have begun fulfilling our commitments, which are not
easy to implement given the internal disagreements in
our country, and the disengagement from the land of our
ancestors. Loyal to the path of Sharon, we prefer the
wisdom of compromise to emotion, and we demand that the
Chairman of the Palestinian Authority and his government
act similarly.
The Palestinians, headed by Chairman Mahmoud Abbas have
committed themselves to implementing a series of
concrete steps, which will abrogate the capability to
threaten Israel and the political process with terror.
Among them is the dismantling of all terror
organizations starting with the Hamas, confiscating
illegal weapons, enforcing law and order in their
territory, implementing government, security and
financial reforms, and ceasing the incitement and
education of hatred against Israel.
The key to moving the political process forward is for
the Palestinians to abandon the path of terror. This is
not a matter for words, statements and empty promises -
we had our fill of these in the past.
The Roadmap determines that, only after all these steps
are fully completed, will they be entitled to the status
of national independence and equal rights and
obligations in the international community. This is not
solely an Israeli demand. This is a general
international prerequisite required of them. Led by the
United States, the countries of the European Union,
Russia, the UN and the moderate Arab states, led by
Egypt and Jordan.
The Government of Israel, under my leadership, will
insist on the full implementation of the Roadmap, and of
all its phases, exactly as was agreed, because this is
the only way to preserve security and bring about peace.
It would be a serious, historic mistake to allow the
Palestinians to avoid the fulfillment of their
commitment to dismantle terror organizations. We must
adhere to the Roadmap, conduct negotiations on its
implementation, and act to create massive international
pressure on the Palestinians to fight terror.
Those who are in a rush have asked whether, because of
the elections, the present Government has already
committed to another disengagement if future contacts
with the Palestinians are not successful. We would
prefer an agreement. If our expected partners in the
negotiations in the framework of the Roadmap do not
uphold their commitments, we will preserve the Israeli
interest in every way.
The elections taking place tomorrow in the Palestinian
Authority are an historic opportunity for the
Palestinians to take a giant step towards realizing
their goal - to achieve national independence in a
country of their own.
In 1947, the Palestinians rejected the offer to
establish a country. History has provided them with
another opportunity to establish an independent state.
The actualization of this opportunity involves
relinquishing some of their national dreams, just as we
have relinquished some of our national dreams.
In the elections tomorrow, and in the steps which will
follow, they will have to decide: whether to take their
fate into their hands or to again leave the key in the
hands of the extremists, those who led them from bad to
worse and condemned them to a life of misery and
suffering.
It is important to be clear: we are interested in
neighborly relations which are good, productive and
progressive. We support the establishment of a modern,
democratic Palestinian state which respects civil
rights, and is economically prosperous. Their welfare is
our welfare, their well-being is our well-being, their
stability is our stability.
I am following the Palestinian elections closely. We
have made important decisions whose purpose is to allow
the existence of free and orderly elections. I hope that
the results will allow the elected government under the
leadership of Mahmoud Abbas to move forward towards a
settlement.
I am not a partner to all the doomsayers who are already
telling us how hard and horrible it will be here after
the elections in the Authority. Israel will know how to
operate and act in any circumstance, faced with any
scenario, in order to preserve its security and
political horizons, and advance the hopes for a changed
reality.
Backed by broad international support, Israel will
continue to demand that all the phases of the Roadmap be
carried out. If the Palestinians continue to evade their
commitments, we have the ability to defend Israel and
strike back at terror and those who carry it out, as we
have until today, and even with more intensity.
The difficult war against terror has not stopped, and
will not stop as long as there is a threat to the
security of the citizens of Israel. Acceleration of the
construction of the security fence, together with the
improved ability of the IDF and other security forces,
as well as Israel's increased latitude - will be our
answer to terror.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Alongside our significant effort to realize our dream of
tranquility, peace and security, we cannot ignore what
is occurring within us, the quality of life within our
home - our commitment to building a strong, value-based
society is complete and unequivocal.
For several years, the State of Israel suffered a severe
economic recession, which threatened its social
stability. We began taking significant steps to pull out
of the recession. The Government steps jumpstarted
economic growth. We achieved a growth rate of 5.2% in
2005, higher than that which exists in Europe and the
United States. We stabilized employment and lowered the
unemployment rate from 11% to approximately 9%. We
encouraged foreign investors to invest unprecedented
sums in Israeli industry and the Israeli financial
system. The amount of direct foreign investment in the
Israeli economy reached more than $6 billion in 2005.
All the economic indicators point to a strong Israeli
economy, which serves as an attractive target for
foreign investors. These steps were taken by the
Government, headed by Ariel Sharon, with his full and
unprecedented backing, and under the leadership of
then-Minister of Finance Benjamin Netanyahu.
Nevertheless, we have still not done enough to narrow
the gaps in society. We have not done enough to defend
those sectors of the public which are in dire need. We
have not shown enough compassion towards those who have
nothing. Since I took upon myself the responsibility of
shaping the State of Israel's economic and social
policy, we have decided to change our emphasis, and
determine a new set of priorities.
Achieving this goal will not be realized through a
return to the regime of distributing allowances and
support, rather by determining clear goals in the two
central spheres of modern society: education and
employment. We must allow equal opportunities for every
citizen of Israel, and achieve equality in the
possibility to realize these opportunities. Every
Israeli citizen deserves the best education, and a
supportive and stimulating environment in which to earn
an honorable living. Combining these two components is
the key to growth and narrowing the social gaps.
Before his hospitalization, the Prime Minister directed
that work plans be prepared, which would include clear
goals and detailed paths of action in those spheres.
These plans will be presented to the public shortly, and
will constitute the core building blocks of the
Government's policy.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Allow me to end on a personal note. For 32 years, I have
served the State of Israel. From the position I have
assumed due to Prime Minister Sharon's illness, I see an
Israel fighting difficulties and great hardships, but I
also see the glimmer of hope in the eyes of many
Israelis, for the first time in many years. And as Ariel
Sharon said: "We must not let this new spirit, which
grants our peoples hope, pass us by and leave us
empty-handed - I have no intention of missing this
opportunity."
From here, from this podium, I declare: I believe in the
people of Israel and in the State of Israel. I believe
in the genuine will of the citizens of Israel to live in
peace, security and tranquility, and I believe in our
ability to achieve this goal when we are united. From
here, I send my wishes for a speedy recovery to the man
who, over the past five years, has led us into a reality
in which there is a chance for a better future. I hope
that we will soon be able to stand before him and tell
him: we have walked in your light.
Thank you.
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