PM Sharon:We Can Achieve Peace

[Guest guest]

Prime Minister Sharon Speech to the Opening Session of the Knesset

 

October 14, 2002

We all strive to end the terrible, bloody conflict with the

Palestinians. We can - we can - achieve peace.

 

 

But will the present Palestinian leadership want to abandon their

scheme to eliminate Israel, and instead, chose to live with us in

peace?

 

 

Even a Palestinian child knows the real answer in his heart: the

bands of terrorists and murderers that have taken over the lives of

the Palestinians with the encouragement, agreement, and at the

initiative of the Palestinian Authority that controls them, do not

want peace - not for us and not for the Palestinians. They are an

obstacle to peace. In order to reach peace, their murderous regime

must be removed and replaced with one of peace.

 

 

This is the truth - even if it is bitter. This is reality - even if

it is harsh. Too many times we have buried our heads in the sand. No

more.

 

 

>From here, at this Knesset podium, I call on the Palestinians, and

say to them: Your terrible pain is unnecessary. Your sacrifices are

unnecessary! The blood you have spilled has been spilled in vain.

Say: "Enough!" Change the regime of tyranny that leads you from

defeat to defeat, from disaster to disaster.

 

 

I believe that every Palestinian knows the truth. I believe that

there is a real chance that the coming year will be a year of change.

I believe that the hand we extend in peace will not be ignored

forever. I believe that our Palestinian neighbors will, of their own

accord, reach a moment of historic change in their relationship with

the State of Israel. I promise you that this government will monitor

of every sign of change, and will know how to use every opening or

even hint of change in order to realize the hope of generations, and

to make peace.

 

 

Members of Knesset,

 

 

The threat to the security of the State of Israel does not stem only

from the conflict with the Palestinians. It also stems from the

existence of dark regimes in our region that make every effort to arm

themselves with weapons of mass destruction, in order to bring about

our elimination.

 

 

Israel does not face the foreign threat empty-handed.

 

 

I hear the voices of alarm reverberating in the media, I see the

headlines of fear. I hear the reports of anxiety. Anyone observing us

from the outside would think that we are being led like lambs to the

slaughter.

 

 

>From here I would like to address all the citizens of Israel, and

tell them: Do not be afraid. There is cause for concern, but Israel

is prepared and ready for any scenario that our enemies are planning.

There is no cause for panic or for the talk that creates it. We must

stay united, act together, quietly, determinedly, and responsibly,

 

and do whatever is necessary.

 

 

The threats of mass destruction and mass terror are not only directed

at us. The United States, the leader of the free world, is determined

to uproot this threat and to neutralize it. Israel is part of the

free world, an ally of the United States, and we welcome its

leadership in the struggle against the forces of evil.