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Edward S. Walker, Jr. Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs Remarks, Anti-Defamation League, Annual Leadership Conference Washington, DC, May 8, 2000 The Peace Process and U.S.-Israeli Relations It's great to be here with you and the dedicated leadership of the Anti-Defamation League. And as always, it's a pleasure to share the podium with my friend and colleague Ambassador Ivry. I am also pleased to be here for another reason. Since taking over as Assistant Secretary almost 4 months ago, this is the first occasion I've had to address the leadership of a major Jewish organization. As U.S. Ambassador to Israel, speaking to groups like the ADL and other concerned supporters of Israel was one of the aspects of the job that I enjoyed most. I have to admit that as Assistant Secretary I miss not being available to participate in these kinds of events more often. A large part of what's keeping me busy is our efforts to support President Clinton and Secretary Albright in helping the Israelis, Syrians, Lebanese, and Palestinians in their efforts to reach peace agreements. Last week, I came back from visiting a number of Arab capitals. From my discussions with leaders in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the Gulf it was gratifying to find the level of their commitment to continuation of the peace process and their willingness to help. As we have found out, all too frequently, and most recently at Geneva, this isn't going to be easy. While tremendous progress has been made over the past several years, gaps remain on all tracks, some more serious than others. The threat of violence by terrorists or rejectionists bent on destroying the peace process is a real and present danger. The important point here is that no one has given up. We are approaching a decisive phase in the peace process. The next 6 to 8 weeks could be crucial. Israelis and Palestinians are committed to reaching a framework agreement as soon as possible and a comprehensive agreement on all permanent status issues by September 13. Both sides are going to have to make tough decisions on the most fundamental issues--those that have resisted resolution for the past 50 years. Neither can expect to get 100% of what it seeks. And that fact entails risks for both sides. President Clinton has made it clear ever since Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's courageous commitment to take risks for peace that the United States would do everything it could to minimize those risks. Only a strong, secure Israel can negotiate a peace that will last, and we remain committed, as always, to seeing that Israel maintains its qualitative edge. This commitment is evident on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks of the peace process. Despite difficulties, we have not given up on the Syrian track. But negotiating the future of the Golan Heights is risky business for Israel. We recognize that only an agreement that enhances Israel's security will be acceptable to Israelis and the United States. At the same time, a way must be found to meet the needs of the Syrian side as well. It would be a great mistake to assume that the Syrians do not, in their own way, face significant risks in approaching peace. Therefore, as long as both Israelis and Syrians are still interested in finding a way forward, and we believe that continues to be the case, the United States will persist in our efforts to help them. It's against this backdrop that Israel announced that it would withdraw its forces from Lebanon by July in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions 425 and 426. The United States has made it clear that we will support the UN Secretary General in his efforts to see that the withdrawal is peaceful and orderly. We expect all the parties in the region to do likewise. The international community voted in favor of these resolutions when they were adopted in 1978. Implementing them is in everyone's interest and responsibility. As Israel confronts the challenges of making peace, it must know that it can count on the United States to remain rock solid in our longstanding and inalterable commitment to its security and well being. This commitment extends far beyond the peace process and involves a strategic partnership that binds our two countries today as never before. We see this bond expressed in our efforts on behalf on Israeli membership in the Western Europe and Others Group at the United Nations. We see it in our continuing vigorous international diplomacy on behalf of the 13 Iranian Jews accused of espionage. We will not flag in these efforts. We see it in the work we did with Congress to secure funding for the Wye River Memorandum. This bond was affirmed by President Clinton and Prime Minister Barak last July after their meeting in Washington. At that time, they announced a broad new understanding that significantly enhances the already unique bilateral relationship between our two countries. We translated this understanding into concrete terms by establishing the Strategic Policy Planning Group. The Group's purpose is to bolster Israel's indigenous defense capabilities as well as bilateral cooperation to meet the strategic threats Israel faces. I chair this group with Zvi Stauber. We've had a number of productive meetings, the most recent of which was last Monday. Obviously, we don't march in lock step on all issues. This is no more evident than in our current differences over technology transfer and our policies toward China. But we deal with our differences, even sharp ones, as close friends and partners, secure in the knowledge that our fundamental commitments to each other remain unshakable. The U.S. continues to support Israel's security needs with generous levels of annual military assistance, which are slated to increase to $2.4 billion annually over the next 8 years. At the same time, recognizing Israel's strong economic prospects, we have agreed to phase out our bilateral economic assistance to Israel, and rely more on flourishing trade and investment ties to cement our economic partnership. Two-way trade with Israel is approaching $20 billion per year, and Israel is now our largest single trading partner in the Middle East. Israeli firms now have the second largest number of listings on the NASDAQ index, and cooperation between Silicon Valley and Israeli startup firms is flourishing. The United States will stand by Israel's side as it moves ahead to develop its economic potential further. We are discussing bilateral and regional programs to promote the development of new and additional sources of water, including desalination, and to manage existing water resources more efficiently. We are cooperating closely in the area of science and technology. An Israeli astronaut and a payload of Israeli experiments will fly on a shuttle missile this year. NASA and the Israeli Space Agency will be working together on research and development of practical applications in the peaceful use of space. As we look ahead to the future, I'd like to come back to the theme of peace and reconciliation. It's our commonly shared goal to reach a comprehensive peace in the region. President Clinton and Prime Minister Barak have pledged to devote the full measure of their efforts to this undertaking. As Secretary Albright has said, the logic of peace has never been more compelling. Some 9 years after Madrid, we are looking at a situation in which Israel has full relations with three Arab states and commercial or other forms of official contact with half a dozen others. But the relations at an official level have not permeated the societies of this region. This must, therefore, remain as one of the principal gaps in our diplomacy and one of our major goals. While governments can sign peace treaties, only individual men, women, and children can create real peace. A peace that enables Israeli and Arab citizens to break through the historical barriers of fear and hostility. As President Clinton stated last December in Oslo "Old fears and suspicions and hatred can, in fact, be overcome...the only final answer to violence is reconciliation." It is toward this end that we are working to advocate and support direct cooperation through Israeli-Palestinian people-to-people initiatives. With the Wye money, we will make available $10 million to U.S., Israeli, and Palestinian NGO's to cooperate on activities in a wide range of people-to-people exchanges. The United States has supported interaction between Israelis and Palestinians for many years, in a variety of ways. These exchanges have led to the creation of strong ties between individuals and institutions in Israel, the West Bank, Gaza, and the United States. The initiatives covered every segment of the societies from education, health, and science, to young political leaders and Israeli and Palestinian youth such as Seeds of Peace. But more can be done and must be done. Citizens of the region, and friends of Israel and of understanding, such as the ADL, should seek every opportunity to build binding and positive relationships between the peoples of the region. Peace is more than secure borders. It is an understanding between people that can only come through the kind of long-term associations that these exchanges promote. And while we are building, we have to continue our efforts to expose racism, bigotry, and intolerance wherever it occurs--whether it is in Israel's position in international organizations, a trial of 13 Iranian citizens held in secret and without due process, or the daily disparagement and anti-Semitism that comes all too often in the regional press. I have worked closely with the ADL in my previous positions. I look forward to working even more aggressively together in the future. [end of document] Remarks Index | Peace Process | Near Eastern Affairs | Department of State | Secretary of State