Source: Jerusalem Post September 15 2006
Sharon, speaking in Hebrew and quoting God's call to Abraham to "go forth" to Israel, said that "the right of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel does not mean disregarding the rights of others in the land. The Palestinians will always be our neighbors. We respect them, and have no aspirations to rule over them. They are also entitled to freedom and to a national, sovereign existence in a state of their own."
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But Sharon's words were not only those that would find favor in the ears of the world body. He pledged that Israel would continue to build the security fence, a measure that has been roundly condemned on a number of occasions by various UN institutions, from the General Assembly to the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
"The security fence prevents terrorist and murderers from arriving in city centers on a daily basis and targeting citizens on their way to work, children on their way to school and families sitting together in restaurants," Sharon said. "The fence is vitally indispensable. The fence saves lives."
Sharon also made it clear that Israel would not compromise on the Palestinian demand for a return of refugees.
"I am among those who believe that it is possible to reach a fair compromise and coexistence in good neighborly relations between Jews and Arabs," Sharon said. "However, I must emphasize one fact: there will be no compromise on the right of the State of Israel to exist as a Jewish state, with defensible borders, in full security and without terror threats."
Sharon, whose speech was greeted by warm applause, also alluded to the Iranian nuclear threat and the danger it poses for Israel.
"Even today, he said, "there are those who sit here as representatives of a country whose leadership calls to wipe Israel off the face of the earth, and no one speaks out.
"The attempts of that country to arm itself with nuclear weapons must disturb the sleep of anyone who desires peace and stability in the Middle East and the entire world. The combination of murky fundamentalism and support of terrorist organization creates a serious threat that every member nation in the UN must stand against."
Sharon, who opened his words by stressing Israel's ties to Jerusalem, "the capital of the Jewish people for over 3,000 years, and the undivided and eternal capital of the State of Israel," presented a lofty, almost lyrical survey infused with religious references and themes to the Jewish people's ties to the land of Israel.
"The land of Israel is precious to me, precious to us, the Jewish people, more than anything," he said. "Relinquishing any part of our forefathers' legacy is heartbreaking, as difficult as the parting of the Red Sea. Every inch of land, every hill and valley, every stream and rock, is saturated with Jewish history, replete with memories."
"The security fence prevents terrorist and murderers from arriving in city centers on a daily basis and targeting citizens on their way to work, children on their way to school and families sitting together in restaurants," Sharon said. "The fence is vitally indispensable. The fence saves lives."
Sharon also made it clear that Israel would not compromise on the Palestinian demand for a return of refugees.
"I am among those who believe that it is possible to reach a fair compromise and coexistence in good neighborly relations between Jews and Arabs," Sharon said. "However, I must emphasize one fact: there will be no compromise on the right of the State of Israel to exist as a Jewish state, with defensible borders, in full security and without terror threats."
Sharon, whose speech was greeted by warm applause, also alluded to the Iranian nuclear threat and the danger it poses for Israel.
"Even today, he said, "there are those who sit here as representatives of a country whose leadership calls to wipe Israel off the face of the earth, and no one speaks out.
"The attempts of that country to arm itself with nuclear weapons must disturb the sleep of anyone who desires peace and stability in the Middle East and the entire world. The combination of murky fundamentalism and support of terrorist organization creates a serious threat that every member nation in the UN must stand against."
Sharon, who opened his words by stressing Israel's ties to Jerusalem, "the capital of the Jewish people for over 3,000 years, and the undivided and eternal capital of the State of Israel," presented a lofty, almost lyrical survey infused with religious references and themes to the Jewish people's ties to the land of Israel.
"The land of Israel is precious to me, precious to us, the Jewish people, more than anything," he said. "Relinquishing any part of our forefathers' legacy is heartbreaking, as difficult as the parting of the Red Sea. Every inch of land, every hill and valley, every stream and rock, is saturated with Jewish history, replete with memories."
Sharon talked about the "unimpeachable right of the people of Israel to the Land of Israel." He stressed this "to emphasize the immensity of the pain I feel deep in my heart at the recognition that we have to make concession for the sake of peace between us and our Palestinian neighbors."
He said that now that Israel has ended "control over and responsibility for the Gaza Strip," the Palestinians can if they so desire "develop their economy and build a peace-seeking society, which is developed, free, law-abiding, transparent, and which adheres to democratic principles."
Sharon said that the Palestinians now must put an end to terror and its infrastructures, "eliminate the anarchic regime of armed gangs, and cease the incitement and indoctrination of hatred toward Israel and the Jews."
Until they do so, Sharon said, "Israel will know how to defend itself from the horrors of terrorism."
Sharon reiterated Israel's commitment to the road map and the implementation of the Sharm e-Sheikh understandings, which among other elements calls for the transfer of the major Palestinian towns to the PA, and a further release of Palestinian security prisoners.
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