U.S. Department of State
96/06/25 Remarks before New Israeli Cabinet
Office of the Spokesman
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
(Jerusalem)
______________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release June 25, 1996
REMARKS BY
U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE, WARREN CHRISTOPHER AND
ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER, BINYAMIN NETANYAHU
AT RECEPTION FOR THE NEW ISRAELI CABINET
Jerusalem
June 25, 1996
PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU: Mr. Secretary, it is a special pleasure for
me, both personally and on behalf of my colleagues in the government, to
welcome you and your staff to Jerusalem. Mr. Secretary of State
Christopher, is one of the greatest diplomats of our time and he is a
tireless servant of peace. Chris, you have shown a personal devotion
and dedication to the achievement of peace which I think has few equals
in our modern diplomatic history. I think you have also given a new
meaning to the word 'commuting.' Frankly, I don't know how you do it.
I know I couldn't do it, but you seem to be up to it, tirelessly,
relentlessly, with the goal of peace in mind. It is our goal as well.
I think that the relationship between the United States and Israel is
unique in the annals of the history of nations. I know that we share
common interest and, common democratic ideals but, I believe, that there
is something else that goes beyond that. There is, I think, in the
heart of every Israeli, a special attitude toward the United States and
I know that there is also a great fondness for Israel among the leaders
and representatives of the American people and the American people as a
whole. But the something that I am talking about goes to a deeper
level. In the 19th century it used to be said that every citizen of a
free nation viewed France in a special way. France was the repository
and the guardian of freedom in the 19th century. I think in the 20th
century every citizen of a free nation -- we are a free nation --
believes that the ultimate guardian of freedom in this century has been
the United States. No people feel that in a deeper way; no people is
attached more to that bond of freedom and the bond of democracy than the
people of Israel, to the people of the United States. It was from that
spirit -- democracy and freedom -- that I welcome you here and I welcome
the opportunity to work with you and President Clinton in the pursuit of
peace and security for our people and all the peoples of the region.
SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER: Prime Minister Netanyahu, we look forward to
welcoming you, in particular, to the United States and we hope it will
be soon. Members of the Cabinet, ladies and gentlemen, it is a great
honor and pleasure for me to be here this evening. I had a very full
and eventful day in what has become one of my most favorite cities in
the world. I had a good meeting with the Prime Minister and then with
the Foreign Minister. I had a brief chat with former Prime Minister
Peres. Tomorrow I leave for Cairo but, before I do so, I will be having
breakfast with President Weizman. So, it has been a full and very
eventful time for me. Like so many days that I have spent here, today
reminded me how alive and how vibrant this city is, how unique and
diverse it is and, above all, how important the people of Israel are.
The strength and diversity of the people of Israel have enabled this
country to overcome tremendous challenges. Whatever problems or
differences that you have confronted you've managed to pull together and
to create one of the most extraordinary societies, one of the most
extraordinary nations in the world.
As I look around the room tonight, and again, to meet members of the
cabinet, I am struck by the complexities of government and the many
facets required to manage a modern state -- science, technology,
agriculture, finance, tourism, energy, labor, health -- just to name a
few. A very complex job you have, Mr. Prime Minister, in leading a
government of this importance and complexity. The extraordinary
achievements that Israel has made in each of these fields, both through
private initiative, as well as through government, demonstrate how much
success you've had in dealing with the challenges of nation-building
here in the twentieth century.
What's more, I think what makes it really extraordinary, is how Israel
has been able to make these achievements, move ahead, despite the
constant and perilous threat to its security from those who would want
to no longer accept Israel. Managing this challenge to your security
has required enormous sacrifice. For many around the world -- for many
around the room -- as well as many of the people of Israel. Even so,
you pursued the cause of peace with enormous energy and enormous
determination. In this, as well as many other things, the United States
and Israel have a common goal, we want to reach that day when all the
energies, and all of our people can be concentrated on making our
societies a better place for our citizens to live, and not having to
devote so much of our energies to conflict and war. But for the time
being, our obligations are dual and manifold -- that is to maintain
security as well as to achieve and sustain the progress that you've made
to this point.
During the past several years, much progress has been made, but the road
ahead will not be easy. There will be difficulties ahead. But for the
first time I think since the Israeli-Arab conflict began, we can see the
prospect and opportunity to end it once and for all. The United States
has stood, and will continue to stand, shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel
in an effort to achieve peace and security. The ties that bind us are
not by any means superficial, and they are not temporary. They are deep
and enduring. They are based upon shared interests, shared values and a
common purpose. The United States has an unshakable commitment to the
security and well-being of Israel. Working together, I'm confident we
can achieve the peace and security that you and your Arab neighbors have
been so long denied, and so long deserve.
Mr. Prime Minister, Mrs. Netanyahu, members of the cabinet, I'm very
grateful and honored to be here, and I look forward to having informal
conversations with you as some of us meet for the first time. Thank you
so much.
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