(JTA).Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will speak of conceding territory and sharing the land with the Palestinian people when talks are formally launched.
"The Jewish people are not strangers in our homeland, the land of our forefathers," Netanyahu says in a speech to be delivered Wednesday evening when he meets with President Obama and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas at the White House, and distributed to reporters beforehand. "But we recognize that another people share this land with us. And I came here to find an historic compromise that will enable both peoples to live in peace, security and dignity."
Netanyahu said his overriding concern will be ensuring security for Israelis before concessions are in place. "We left Lebanon, we got terror. We left Gaza, we got terror,We want to ensure that territory we concede will not be turned in to a third Iranian-sponsored terror enclave aimed at the heart of Israel."
Below are Excerpts as prepared for tonights anticipated speech:
"The Jewish people are not strangers in our homeland, the land of our forefathers," Netanyahu says in a speech to be delivered Wednesday evening when he meets with President Obama and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas at the White House, and distributed to reporters beforehand. "But we recognize that another people share this land with us. And I came here to find an historic compromise that will enable both peoples to live in peace, security and dignity."
Netanyahu said his overriding concern will be ensuring security for Israelis before concessions are in place. "We left Lebanon, we got terror. We left Gaza, we got terror,We want to ensure that territory we concede will not be turned in to a third Iranian-sponsored terror enclave aimed at the heart of Israel."
Below are Excerpts as prepared for tonights anticipated speech:
"I am very pleased to be here today to begin our common effort to achieve lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians."
"I want to thank you President Obama for your tireless effort to renew the quest for peace. I want to thank Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Senator Mitchell, the many members of the Obama administration and Tony Blair, who have all worked so hard to bring Israelis and Palestinians together here today."
"We do not seek interlude between two wars. We do not seek a temporary respite between outbursts of terror. We seek a peace that will end the conflict between us once and for all. We seek a peace that will last for duration. This is the peace my people want. This is the peace we all deserve."
"A lasting peace is a peace between people, Israelis and Palestinians must learn to live next to one another and with one another. But every peace begins with leaders. President Abbas, you are my partner in peace. It is up to us to overcome the agonizing conflict between our people and to forge a new beginning."
"the Jewish people are not strangers in our homeland, the land of our forefathers. But we recognize that other people share this land with us. And I came here today to find a historic compromise that will enable both people to live in peace, security and dignity. I didn’t come here to win an argument. I came here to forge peace. I didn’t come here to play a blame game, where even the winners lose. I came here to achieve a peace that will bring benefit to all."
"Only yesterday four Israelis including a pregnant woman and a mother of six children were brutally murdered by savage terrorists. I am prepared to walk down the path of peace because I also know what peace would mean for our children and grandchildren.
"I know it would herald a new beginning that would unleash unprecedented opportunities for Israelis, Palestinians and the people throughout the region. A period of calm has created an economic boom for Palestinians in Ramallah, Jenin and throughout the West Bank. Real peace can turn this boom into a tidal wave of progress and hope."
"If we work together we can take advantage of the great benefits afforded by our unique place under the sun. Our geography, rich history, culture, climate and the talents of our people can create unprecedented opportunities in tourism, trade, industry, energy, water and so much more."
"But peace must also be defended against its enemies, We want the skyline of the West Bank to be dominated by apartment towers, not missiles. We want the roads of the West Bank to flow with commerce, not terrorists. We left Lebanon, we got terror. We left Gaza, we got terror. We want to ensure that territories we concede will not be turned into a third Iranian-sponsored terror enclave, aimed at the heart of Israel.
"That is why a defensible peace requires security arrangements that can withstand the test of time and the many challenges that are sure to confront us. There will be many challenges, both great and small. Let us not get bogged down by every difference between us. Let us direct our courage at the historic decisions that lay ahead.
In conclusion, Netanyahu will note, "There are many skeptics. There are many reasons for skepticism, but I have no doubt that peace is possible. President Abbas, we can't erase the past. But it is within our powers to change the future. Thousands of years ago on the very hills where Israelis and Palestinians live today, the Jewish profit Isaiah and the other profits of my people envisioned a lasting peace for all mankind. Let today be the first step, however small, in our joint effort to realize that vision."
