Text of a speech, delivered at the 6th Herzliya Conference on
January24, 2006, by the then-Acting Prime Minister Ehud
Olmert. 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 of working alongside 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
routine. 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 an 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
incisive and insightful 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 for 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. These include: 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 - headed 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 that 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 freedom of action - 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 severe economic
recession, which threatened its social stability. We began
taking significant steps to pull out of the recession. The
Government measures jumpstarted economic growth. We achieved a
growth rate of 5.2 percent in 2005, higher than in Europe and the
United States. We stabilized employment and lowered the
unemployment rate from 11 percent to approximately 9 percent. 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 of realizing 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
Government 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 battling
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.