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April 14, 2004
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 roadmap 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 towards
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 roadmap.
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 roadmap. The United
States will do its utmost to prevent any attempt by anyone to
impose any other plan. Under the roadmap, 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 roadmap. 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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