Posted on 05/07/2002 9:07:19 PM PDT by Dallas
Text of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's statement at a news conference before departing from Washington:
This evening, at the conclusion of my meeting with President Bush, the president and I received the news of the terrible attack in Rishon Letzion. Upon receipt of this news, I decided to cancel all my planned meetings here and return home immediately.
I convey my deepest condolences to the families of the victims and my wishes for a speedy recovery to all the wounded.
Immediately upon receiving the news of the attack, the president asked me to convey his sympathies to the people of Israel, the bereaved families and the wounded who are lying in hospitals. The president has asked me to express his dismay over the terrible massacre of innocent people -- children, women, and youth on a night out, whose only sin was being Jewish, Israeli.
I came here, to the United States, to discuss the prospects of peace and stability in the region. I came to the United States to discuss the possibility of reforms in the Palestinian Authority, which are a necessary precondition to the advancement of the political process. There is no way to move forward on a political process with a terrorist, corrupt and centralist entity. I came to the United States to discuss the chances of convening a regional conference to advance stability in the region. Today, in the face of all our sincere efforts to move forward on the political path, we received another proof of the true intentions of the person leading the Palestinian Authority.
Those who call for millions of "martyrs" are guilty. Those who constantly incite are guilty. Those who fund terrorism are guilty. Those who launch terrorism are guilty. Guilty.
To anyone who tries to blackmail Israel into making concessions -- either big or small -- through the weapon of terror and intimidation, or tries to blackmail the state of Israel through sowing fear, I say today: Israel will not surrender to blackmail. He who rises up to kill us, we will pre-empt it and kill him first.
As we have proven, there is no -- and there will never be -- any shelter for terrorists, their abettors or dispatchers, and all those who are engaged in terrorism. There is no -- and there never will be -- any shelter for evil. Israel will act the same as any democracy that protects itself. Israel will act like any other democracy which fights the forces of darkness. Israel will continue to uproot the terror infrastructure.
Operation Defensive Shield was a vital and important stage in the dismantling of the terror infrastructure. The operation has yielded tremendous achievements. But our work is not done. The battle continues and will continue, until all those who believe that they can make gains through the use of terror-will cease to exist. Israel will act strongly.
I depart now to Israel with a heavy heart, heavy with grief and heavy with rage. The rage of every man and woman in Israel. The rage of each and every Jew in the world. The rage of all those who share our values: freedom, liberty and democracy Israel will fight for these values. Israel will fight anyone who tries to threaten these values. Israel will fight anyone who tries, through suicide terrorism, to sow fear. Israel will fight, Israel will triumph and when victory prevails, Israel will make peace.
Copyright © 2002, The Associated Press
He is paraphrasing something from the Talmund here, I beleive.
Yeah.
Hmm. Sounds a little like, "Peace through strength."
I came here, to the United States, to discuss the prospects of peace and stability in the region.
....and while you did that, your enemies plotted murder and mayhem........yet somehow the liberal newsmedia insists on portraying you as a bad guy. Go figure.
There is no way to move forward on a political process with a terrorist, corrupt and centralist entity.
Today, in the face of all our sincere efforts to move forward on the political path, we received another proof of the true intentions of the person leading the Palestinian Authority.
Another proof, one of a ceaseless streams of 'proofs' emanating from terror worshipping Jihadists.
......and neither should the United States. I think it is high time that we band with other nations who display such resolve in dealing with these types who would murder freedom as well as people.
Some will have to forgive me, but I don't care to place my security in the hands of Kofi &Co, and for the same reasons I would not expect Israel to do the same.
So in the opinion of this poster, Mr Sharon, don't give in to One World Government type monsters like the UN, you (as you already know, of course) can not depend on them for security or any other such thing.
To anyone who tries to blackmail Israel into making concessions -- either big or small -- through the weapon of terror and intimidation, or tries to blackmail the state of Israel through sowing fear, I say today: Israel will not surrender to blackmail. He who rises up to kill us, we will pre-empt it and kill him first.
The Hammer is about to fall.
The way the United States used to be before the liberals came along and emasculated the eagle. The way we used to deal with despots, tyrants, and any other would be totalitarian who would grind our way of life into the dust.
The newspapers, the whiny lib talking heads can spew all of the garbage they want to; Israel is not the enemy of the United States, Israel is a country more like us than any in the region.......I'm not buying the snake oil that Israel is guilty of brutalizing poor Yasser and other terrorist.
It's called, 'We're tired of being attacked by you, and we have an obligation to protect our citizens against foreign people who would destroy us'.
I hope Israel blows them off the face of the earth.
Peace Partner indeed!
Please God that we would do the same.
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