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His Excellency
Ariel Sharon
Prime Minister of
Israel
Dear Mr. Prime Minister,
Thank you for your letter setting out
your disengagement plan.
The United States remains hopeful and
determined to find a way forward toward a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian
dispute. I remain committed to my June 24, 2002 vision of two states living
side by side in peace and security as the key to peace, and to the road map as
the route to get there.
We welcome the disengagement plan you have
prepared, under which Israel would withdraw certain military installations and
all settlements from Gaza, and withdraw certain military installations and
settlements in the West Bank.
These steps described in the plan will
mark real progress toward realizing my June 24, 2002 vision, and make a real
contribution toward peace. We also understand that, in this context, Israel
believes it is important to bring new opportunities to the Negev and the
Galilee. We are hopeful that steps pursuant to this plan, consistent with my
vision, will remind all states and parties of their own obligations under the
road map.
The United States appreciates the risks such an undertaking
represents. I therefore want to reassure you on several points.
First,
the United States remains committed to my vision and to its implementation as
described in the road map. The United States will do its utmost to prevent any
attempt by anyone to impose any other plan. Under the road map, Palestinians
must undertake an immediate cessation of armed activity and all acts of
violence against Israelis anywhere, and all official Palestinian institutions
must end incitement against Israel.
The Palestinian leadership must act
decisively against terror, including sustained, targeted, and effective
operations to stop terrorism and dismantle terrorist capabilities and
infrastructure. Palestinians must undertake a comprehensive and fundamental
political reform that includes a strong parliamentary democracy and an
empowered prime minister.
Second, there will be no security for
Israelis or Palestinians until they and all states, in the region and beyond,
join together to fight terrorism and dismantle terrorist organizations.
The United States reiterates its steadfast commitment to Israel's
security, including secure, defensible borders, and to preserve and strengthen
Israel's capability to deter and defend itself, by itself, against any threat
or possible combination of threats.
Third, Israel will retain its right
to defend itself against terrorism, including to take actions against terrorist
organizations. The United States will lead efforts, working together with
Jordan, Egypt, and others in the international community, to build the capacity
and will of Palestinian institutions to fight terrorism, dismantle terrorist
organizations, and prevent the areas from which Israel has withdrawn from
posing a threat that would have to be addressed by any other means.
The
United States understands that after Israel withdraws from Gaza and/or parts of
the West Bank, and pending agreements on other arrangements, existing
arrangements regarding control of airspace, territorial waters, and land
passages of the West Bank and Gaza will continue.
The United States is
strongly committed to Israel's security and well-being as a Jewish state. It
seems clear that an agreed, just, fair, and realistic framework for a solution
to the Palestinian refugee issue as part of any final status agreement will
need to be found through the establishment of a Palestinian state, and the
settling of Palestinian refugees there, rather than in Israel.
As part
of a final peace settlement, Israel must have secure and recognized borders,
which should emerge from negotiations between the parties in accordance with
UNSC Resolutions 242 and 338. In light of new realities on the ground,
including already existing major Israeli populations centers, it is unrealistic
to expect that the outcome of final status negotiations will be a full and
complete return to the armistice lines of 1949, and all previous efforts to
negotiate a two-state solution have reached the same conclusion.
It is
realistic to expect that any final status agreement will only be achieved on
the basis of mutually agreed changes that reflect these realities. I know that,
as you state in your letter, you are aware that certain responsibilities face
the State of Israel. Among these, your government has stated that the barrier
being erected by Israel should be a security rather than political barrier,
should be temporary rather than permanent, and therefore not prejudice any
final status issues including final borders, and its route should take into
account, consistent with security needs, its impact on Palestinians not engaged
in terrorist activities.
As you know, the United States supports the
establishment of a Palestinian state that is viable, contiguous, sovereign, and
independent, so that the Palestinian people can build their own future in
accordance with my vision set forth in June 2002 and with the path set forth in
the road map.
The United States will join with others in the
international community to foster the development of democratic political
institutions and new leadership committed to those institutions, the
reconstruction of civic institutions, the growth of a free and prosperous
economy, and the building of capable security institutions dedicated to
maintaining law and order and dismantling terrorist organizations.
A
peace settlement negotiated between Israelis and Palestinians would be a great
boon not only to those peoples but to the peoples of the entire region.
Accordingly, the United States believes that all states in
the region have special responsibilities: to support the building of the
institutions of a Palestinian state; to fight terrorism, and cut off all forms
of assistance to individuals and groups engaged in terrorism; and to begin now
to move toward more normal relations with the State of Israel.
These
actions would be true contributions to building peace in the region. Mr. Prime
Minister, you have described a bold and historic initiative that can make an
important contribution to peace. I commend your efforts and your courageous
decision which I support. As a close friend and ally, the United States intends
to work closely with you to help make it a success.
Sincerely,
George W. Bush
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