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 Press
conference with the Israeli Prime Minister, Mr Ariel Sharon and
British Prime Minister 22 December 2004
The
Prime Minister Mr. Tony Blair stressed his committment to the peace
process and announced that an international meeting on the Middle
East would be held in London next year.
Read
the press conference in full below:
Mr
Sharon:
I am
glad that my friend, Tony Blair, accepted my invitation and found
the time to come and visit Israel. I am sure that his visit will
contribute to advancing the relationship between Israel and Great
Britain, as well as to the peace process in the Middle East. Tony
Blair is a friend of Israel and understands the concerns, the problems
which we face here. I wish to thank Mr Blair for his ongoing commitment
to advance the peace process in the Middle East and his support
of the disengagement plan.
In
our discussion today I told Prime Minister Blair that I remain committed
to implementing the disengagement plan, which was approved by the
Israeli government and the parliament, according to the timetable
set out in the plan. We discussed the new opportunities emerging
in our region and the need to exhaust every opportunity in order
to push the process forward. We hope that a new leadership in the
Palestinian Authority will choose to fight terrorism and push the
reform process forward, and as I said in the past, we then would
be willing to co-ordinate security issues and elements of the disengagement
plan with that leadership. In the meantime, I repeated our willingness
to take the required steps to help the Palestinians hold a free
and fair presidential election. The Prime Minister and I discussed
his initiative to hold an international meeting in London to the
reform process in the Palestinian Authority. I told the Prime Minister
that we welcome his initiative and we regard it to be very important.
It is our view that an efficient and comprehensive reform process
will help the Palestinians run an effective administration which
will be able to face the challenges that lie ahead, including fighting
terror and dismantling its infrastructure. The elimination of terrorism
will allow us to resume the discussions under the road map. We reiterated
our commitment to the implementation of the road map according to
its sequence.
I wish
to again thank Prime Minister Blair for his visit and his continuing
friendship to the state of Israel.
Mr
Blair:
Thank
you. First of all can I say how pleased I am to be here in Israel
and to thank Prime Minister Sharon for his kind welcome of me here.
Before
I go to the substance of our discussions, can I also express my
deep condolences to the families of the American soldiers that lost
their lives in Iraq yesterday. This once again shows the necessity
of winning the struggle there against terrorism.
The
Prime Minster described me a moment or two ago as a friend of Israel,
and I am a friend of Israel and proud to be so. When the disengagement
plan was first put forward by Prime Minister Sharon, I commented
on it at a press conference with President Bush back in April of
this year, and I said then that I thought it had the potential to
be a very important moment. And I remember being somewhat criticised
for saying that at the time, but I believe that subsequent events
have shown that this is indeed an important opportunity. And at
the press conference that I then did with President Bush a few weeks
ago, we set out five stages which could lead us to a situation where
it was once again possible to talk of a genuine process for peace
here. The first step was to set out the overall vision that people
want to get to, which is the two state solution, and that we did.
The second is that there should be free and fair elections for the
new Palestinian President. That is now under way and I thank Prime
Minister Sharon for what he said about doing all that Israel can
to enable that to happen. The third step was then to make sure,
prior to disengagement actually happening, that there was a clear
plan for the Palestinian side in respect of the measures necessary
for the political institutions, economic transparency and security
that ensured that we could indeed have proper partners for peace
on either side.
That
is the purpose of the meeting in London, and I thank Prime Minister
Sharon for his welcome of it. The purpose of this, in other words,
is to make sure that when the four steps that we talked about, namely
that disengagement actually happens, we have in place a proper and
viable plan in order to make sure that disengagement can indeed
then lead back into the road map, as the Prime Minister indicated,
and that was the fifth step. So in other words we set out an overall
vision, we have the election of the Palestinian President, we have
a plan, a proper plan, a viable plan for the Palestinian side in
terms of politics, the economy, security. And then what we can do
is have the disengagement and after that, provided there is a complete
and total end to the terrorism that has disfigured so much of what
has happened in this area, we can then get back into the road map
that people want to see. And I think what the Prime Minister said
today also about trying to co-ordinate the disengagement with the
Palestinian side is important, and I want to make this very clear
from our perspective, but I believe this would gain support in the
whole of the international community. Everybody wants to see that
overall vision of Israel, confident of its own security, and a viable
Palestinian state put in place. But viability cannot just be about
territory, it also has to be about proper democratic institutions,
about proper security and proper use of the economy. In other words,
the viability has to be that of a state that is democratic, that
is not giving any succour or help to terrorism, and that uses the
help that is given from the outside in a proper and transparent
way.
Now
I believe it is possible to do that, and I hope in that way, in
that limited way I set out, the London meeting next year can be
of some assistance. This is not, let me say right at the very beginning,
it is not and cannot be a substitute for the conferences under the
road map or what then happens in any negotiation that takes place
at a later stage. But what it can do, I hope, is ensure that there
is a real sense that when disengagement happens, there are plans
and proposals in place to allow the Palestinian side to become a
proper partner for peace with Israel. Now that is the purpose of
that meeting, I hope we can achieve it and I thank the Prime Minister
very much for his welcome of that today.
Question
and answer session
Question:
Prime
Minister Blair, I just want to make clear, do you and President
Bush and Prime Minister Sharon believe that fighting terror and
dismantling the Palestinian terror organisations is a precondition
to any political negotiation or progress? And on the Syrian track,
do you believe that Israel is now missing an historic opportunity
for peace with Syria after what President Musharraf said last month?
Mr.
Blair:
I think
on the issue of Syria that is really for Israel to take its decision
and see if it is possible to move forward on that track. In respect
of terrorism, let me make one thing very clear. There is not going
to be any successful negotiation or peace without an end to terrorism.
The world has changed in these past few years and what is necessary
I think for people to understand is that if there is the proper
security measures taken, then Israel does stand ready to implement
the road map, that in other words the important thing is to make
sure that the absence of terrorism then creates the situation in
which a proper negotiated settlement can take place. So that is
my position, and I think if I can put it to you in this way, I think
that is the position of the vast majority of the international community.
And all of us now in the world today are fighting terrorism. In
different ways we are fighting it in Britain with radical groups
that want to cause terrorist acts in our country, we are fighting
it in Iraq now where the people in Iraq want democracy, the terrorists
are trying to stop them. And I think the most important thing is
for us to understand terrorism is not the way to a negotiated settlement,
terrorism is the obstacle to a negotiated settlement. If we can
put it in that way, and if it is then clear that if there is that
end to terrorism, Israel stands ready to do what it has said it
will do, then I think we can make progress.
Question:
If
I could ask one question to each Prime Minister. Could I ask Mr
Blair what in specific terms you need to hear from the Palestinians
before you leave today, what in concrete terms you are looking for?
And if I could ask Mr Sharon, if I was a Palestinian wondering whether
this was time for an historic change, but suspicious of Israel,
perhaps suspicious of yourself, what kind of future do you think
that I could look forward to perhaps in ten years, what is the promise
ahead of me for my state and for my own future if I make that change?
Mr.
Blair:
I think
so far as I am concerned, I think really in a sense I have explained
what it is. What I hope today is that the Palestinian side can see
that we stand ready to help to make sure that the measures that
are necessary in order to give peace a chance actually take place.
Look, we have an opportunity, but the fact that you have an opportunity
doesn't mean to say that the opportunity is taken, it has got to
be taken. How is it taken? It is taken by recognising that the only
way we are going to make meaningful progress is that if as I was
saying earlier, this idea about viability for any Palestinian state
encompasses ideas of democracy, economic transparency and an end
to the security problems that have beset this process. Now I think
and I hope the Palestinians understand that that is necessary, and
the purpose of the meeting in a sense - the conference next year
- is to make sure that the international community gets behind that,
so that we are actually helping create the necessary partnership
that is then going to take this process forward.
Mr
Sharon:
I believe
that if terror will come to its end, because it should be full cessation
of terror, hostilities and incitement, the door will be opened for
the road map which will change I believe the lives of the Israelis,
the Palestinians and change the situation in the region. You mentioned
here that both sides are suspicious. I don't think that the matter
is suspicion, the matter is the most terrible terror that exists
here. You know here we don't have to think what might happen, it
does happen, daily. And as Prime Minister Blair emphasised, in order
to move forward there should be an end to terror, as long as terror
exists it is very hard to expect it will be any change of the Palestinian
situation. So I believe that after the elections that are due to
be on 9 January, the Palestinian elections, here I don't expect
elections, and then of course we will be able to talk with the Palestinians,
but in fact there is almost daily contact today and we are trying
to co-ordinate the help and support that should be provided by us
to the Palestinians in their election time. So if it will be completely
quiet, but I don't speak about an effort, in this part of the world
declarations, speeches, even agreements are not important, only
acts. So if the immediate acts will be taken, then we will be able
to move to the road map, and the road map solves the problem and
provides the opportunity to both nations to live peacefully, but
it depends, and I would like to emphasise again and again, it depends
on the real decision and real acts by the Palestinians to bring
to an end terror. That will open all the opportunities.
Question:
Following
the meetings that you have just concluded with the Prime Minister
and Prime Minister Sharon, do you take it upon yourself to deliver
some sort of message that you will be taking with you to the Palestinian
Authority, as the impression that you got here. And to Prime Minister
Sharon, we heard the things that Prime Minister Blair said about
the International Committee, what is the official position that
Israel has adopted on it?
Mr
Sharon:
I understand
that for the local press I can answer in Hebrew.
Interpreter:
We
said that we support the initiative taken by Prime Minister Blair
to host an international meeting in London. The meeting is about
governmental reforms and needed reforms in the Palestinian Authority
that will lead the Palestinian Authority towards democratisation,
and the meeting will deal with economic assistance to the Palestinians.
Since the matter is focusing mainly on the Palestinians, Israel,
after consultations with our British friends, decided not to participate.
We did it after full consultations and co-ordination with our British
friends.
Mr
Sharon:
We
have discussed the issue with the British and both sides agreed
that there was no reason for or participation because it deals directly
with the Palestinian issues. We regard the conference to be very,
very important and I would like to thank Prime Minister Blair for
taking this initiative.
Question:
Inaudible.
Mr.
Blair:
No,
I am very happy being Prime Minister, I just want to make that clear.
You were asking me about what message I will be taking, but I think
I have really explained what that is. Look, there are two things
I would like to say, first of all on the meeting next year. It never
was anticipated that Israel should come to the meeting, but it is
obviously extremely important though that we keep closely in contact
about what is happening there, and we will do that. But the purpose
of this, so that you understand it, you have got to go back to the
five steps that we set out at the press conference with President
Bush some weeks ago, the purpose of this is as that first step prior
to disengagement so that when disengagement happens, we are then
in the position to use the opportunity of that disengagement to
ensure that we can make progress and get back into the road map.
But then the actual conferences at which the Israelis and the Palestinians
will participate together, that is set out in the road map. So I
think it is important people understand that. Let me make one thing
very clear to you, and I think this in a sense perhaps encapsulates
also the message I have given here and will give to the Palestinians
as well, I am not interested in having a conference or a meeting
that just makes a point, I don't want to hold it for that reason,
I don't want to hold it simply so I can say I have held a meeting
about the Middle East, there have been enough meetings and discussions
and talk about the Middle East, I am holding it because I think
there is one big missing piece of this, where the international
community actually can play a part. In the end the negotiated solution
between Israel and the Palestinians is going to be a matter that
they are going to have to negotiate and the Americans have got the
lead in a sense in respect of the international community there.
There is no point in us trying to think that we can usurp or take
that position, that is not what we are trying to do. The missing
bit that I think we can help on is this, that unless there is a
genuine viable partner in terms of the institutions of democracy,
the institutions necessary for proper economic working and the measures
necessary on security to give Israel the confidence that it requires,
unless that is in place we are never going to get back into the
road map, and then it becomes an academic discussion. And I can
make a speech about the road map, or someone else can, but it is
not going to happen. And what we need to do is to recognise that
when there is a new Palestinian President, he is going to need the
help of the international community to get into that position. And
I was looking recently at the amount of money that the international
community puts in to the Palestinian side, there is a lot of money
there, but we have got to make sure that it is used wisely and properly,
we have got to make sure that there is a real genuine understanding
of what is necessary, in specific terms, to create that viable partner
for the future. And I believe that it is not about us imposing something
on the Palestinians, it is about saying the international community
will work with them in order to make that happen, and then we have
got a chance of getting to the place where everyone wants to get
to.
Question:
As
you know, there is a widespread suspicion that only stopping at
Stage three is in fact something which would please Israel as far
as the peace process is concerned. What do you say to the suggestion
that in fact the disengagement plan in Gaza is seen as a substitute
rather than a first step on the road map. As part of that, when
do you think the expansion of settlements in the West Bank should
be frozen? And finally does Israel accept that for eventual final
status there would have to be substantial withdrawals from the West
Bank as well as from Gaza?
Mr
Sharon:
Israel
is committed to the road map, we accepted the road map, but the
Palestinians also accepted the road map, but of course they have
to do it, as we have to do our part in the road map the Palestinians
have to do their part in the road map. I never thought that the
disengagement plan is a substitute to the road map. The reason that
I initiated the disengagement plan is for one reason, I did not
have a partner then, but once Yasser Arafat left us I believe that
there is a window of opportunity, and I am not going to miss it.
So now we continue with the disengagement plan, once the conditions
will enable us to move forward, and what I mean is that it should
be full cessation of terror, not efforts, not promises, not declarations,
but full cessation of terror, violence and incitement that will
pave a way to the road map.
Question:
And
what about the West Bank in particular ...
Mr
Sharon:
Look,
the disengagement plan speaks about the relocation of our towns
and villages in the Gaza district and four villages in the northern
part of Somaria (phon), and then we have to wait and see what happens.
If the Palestinians will take all the necessary steps, according
to the agreement and according to the agreement between President
Bush and myself, then we will be able to start the road map. So
that is the plan and now I will say that it depends very much on
the Palestinians. By now we don't see even the slightest step taken
by the Palestinians. I understand there are elections now, it is
not that I am happy about that that they are not taking steps, but
they are not doing even the slightest effort, because it is not
a problem of forces, they have in the Gaza district 30,000 armed
security people, under the control of the Palestinian Authority.
We would have expected that it is not to start now, it is a dismantling
of those terrorist organisations, at least they will make an effort
to prevent deploying of those mortars and rockets that attack our
towns and settlements on both sides of the border, I would have
expected they will do that. But after the elections I believe that
they have to start to take all the necessary steps that according
to the Tennet and Zini (phon) plans that they committed themselves
in the past to, and then we will be able to move forward. It depends
upon them.
Question:
Prime
Minister Blair, we are somewhat puzzled by your enthusiasm about
the Israeli-Palestinian issue, as if it is the most pressing problem
of the world these days, and some people believe that this may be
an effort to distract attention from your problems in Iraq. And
Prime Minister Sharon, have you discussed with Prime Minister Blair
the concerns of the Israeli security police and military chiefs
about the disengagement, about the ability to perform it, given
refusals and perhaps violence?
Mr.
Blair:
First
of all, if I can answer your question. If it is an attempt to distract
from issues in Iraq it has been singularly unsuccessful. I do regard
it as very important and it is cared about deeply right round the
world, and I do say to you it is partly because there are terrorist
groups who try to use it, I don't believe they are sincere about
it actually but they try to use it as a means of recruiting people
to terror, and I think it is important in its own way. Anyone who
believes in this region and its future wants to see Israel secure
and wants to see the Palestinians have the opportunity of statehood.
And I just want to go back just for one moment to the previous question,
the question that is asked on the Palestinian side, and indeed in
much of the international community, is exactly the question that
Adam Boulton just asked, which is is disengagement really supposed
to be the final word, and actually Israel doesn't want to move beyond
that, and the answer of the Prime Minister has been very clear,
if we can get the right measures of security in place and the terrorism
stopped, he does want to move forward. And my message in a sense
to the rest of the international community is, even if you may be
doubtful about that, why not put it to the test, actually make sure
that we do have the measures in place so that the terrorism stops
and then we can turn round with justification and say now let us
move into that road map. But if we don't take those measures, we
will never know the answer to that question.
Mr
Sharon:
First,
since the meeting was a very good meeting, relations between ourselves
and Great Britain became much closer than in the past, and I believe
that the visit will strengthen our relations. And as to the question
that you asked, I think that I just mentioned it, but I can tell
you one thing. Israel is a democracy and a state of law and all
the resolutions of the Cabinet and the support in the Israeli parliament,
the Knesset, will be fully implemented exactly according to the
timetable and the plans that were approved by the government and
the Knesset, so you don't have to worry about that. Israel is a
state of law and the law will be kept.
Question:
Prime
Minister Sharon, this is a process dogged by jargon, can we just
clarify what the Prime Minister says that you have just said. In
plain language, are you saying today that the withdrawal from Gaza
is not the end of the withdrawal from the occupied territories that
you as Prime Minister are willing to make? And Prime Minister Blair,
what do you say to people at home who say we have heard it all before,
they heard you after September 11 say there was a chance for peace
here, and they think here we go, another false dawn?
Mr.
Blair:
I would
say that there are differences now. You have got the disengagement
plan, you have got new Palestinian leadership, and maybe above all
else you have got a clear statement, set out in the road map, as
to how we get there. The Prime Minister will speak for himself,
but I certainly have understood him to be saying very, very clearly,
provided that the terrorism stops, and that is the essential thing,
but provided the terrorism stops, disengagement is not the last
word.rw
I always
think how many times I have to repeat what I have already said.
I said very clearly that I decided then to start the disengagement
plan, not having any partners. There are some changes in the region
here. I believe that there is an opportunity now to find the leadership
that will be willing to cooperate and stop terror. Again I speak
about acts, not talks, not promises. Once that will happen, that
will enable us to turn to the road map and implement everything
which is in the road map, according to the sequence of the road
map.
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