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Statement by H.E. Mr. Shimon Peres, President of the State of Israel
The United Nations, New York, 12 November 2009
The United Nations, New York, 12 November 2009
Mr. President,
Mr. Secretary-General,
Your Majesties,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Earlier this week, we commemorated 13 years since the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin – my friend and partner to our journey. He was murdered while singing a song of peace.
Assassins may take a life, but they cannot kill a dream. That fateful night at the square, we stood together and sang of peace, the aspiration of my people for generations and generations.
Then came three shots.
However, we were not alone in our despair. Many who cherished Rabin’s vision from around the world came to stand at our side and share our grief. Arab and Muslim leaders came, and we appreciated it very much, and at the time it felt like sorrow shattered barriers.
Tragedy had united sons and daughters of all religions. Our shared agony shed light on our shared hopes, our hunger for fraternity, a dream of peace which we nurtured in our hearts.
Mr. President,
In our region, children bear the names of prophets who are sacred to us all. Abraham, Avraham, Ibrahim grow up as adversaries, in animosity. Why? Why should Moses, Moshe, and Musa live that way? As our prophets asked: “Have we not all one father? Hath not one God created us? Why do we deal deceitfully every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?”
And Abraham added and asked to his nephew Lot: “Please let there be no strife between me and you, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are kinsmen.”
That was the first call of peace among brothers in history. Brotherly relations should not involve violence or domination. We all worship the same Lord in Heaven. Religion carries the word of God to man, as it is written in Psalms: “What man is he that desires life and loves many days that he may see good? Depart from evil and do good. Seek peace and pursue it.”
Religious belief requires that we recognize the eternal message that all men were created in God’s image. Harming a human being is tantamount to harming God himself. When nuclear weapons, long-range missiles, indiscriminate terror and fanatical incitement determine the agenda, we have all of us to change that agenda.
Mr. President,
The Jewish and Arab national revivals occurred at almost the same time and in almost the same piece of land. They occurred rapidly and in a land that was small in a time that was short.
However, after the First World War, a window of opportunity was opened when Emir Feisal and President Weizmann aspired to create a new environment. They met 89 years ago, in November of 1919 to announce an understanding between the two peoples from the same crib, who could have lived under the shadow of the same trees – old olives and tall dates.
Their declaration, and I quote, was: “Mindful of the racial kinship and ancient bonds existing between the Arabs and the Jewish people, and realizing that the surest means of working out the consummation of their national aspirations, is through the closest possible collaboration.”
This was great a statesmanship and in a timely wisdom.
Alas, we did not take heed of them.
Instead, we confronted one another, abandoning faith for greed and forging swords instead of peace. They tore apart the land and increased hostility, resulting in a region of barriers and walls that rose higher and higher, destroying any bridges that may have been built.
Hundreds of thousands of men and women from all sides lost their lives. Many were incurably injured; others lost their homes and became refugees.
Fortunes were wasted on the purchase, and maintenance and replacement of weapons and new weapons that inevitably became obsolete – resources were spent on sustaining hostility instead of advancing life.
There can not be any consolation for the bereaved families or orphaned children other than the end of violence and bloodshed.
There is an Arab proverb that states that there are three events that cannot be reversed: an arrow released from its bow; a word which has escaped one’s mouth; and a bullet that splits the heart.
Alas, we cannot change the past. However, we can build and shape our future. This seems more feasible today in light of the Saudi proposal which evolved into an Arab peace initiative.
Your majesty, the King of Saudi Arabia, I was listening to your message. I wish that your voice will become the prevailing voice of the whole region, of all people. It is right, it is needed, it is promising.
The initiative’s portrayal of our region’s future provides hope to the people and inspires confidence in the nations.
Yes – in order to change the world we have to change ourselves.
The Arab peace initiative states that: “A military solution to the conflict will not achieve peace or provide security for the parties.”
Israel agrees with this assumption.
Then it continues: “A just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East is the strategic option of the Arab countries.”
Ladies and Gentlemen, this is also the strategic option of Israel.
And it goes on and says that the goals are to: “…consider the Arab-Israeli conflict ended, and enter into a peace agreement with Israel, and provide security for all the states in the region.”
And it continues: “Establish normal relations with Israel in the context of comprehensive peace. Stop the further shedding of blood, enabling the Arab countries and Israel to live in peace and good neighborliness, and provide future generations with security, stability and prosperity.”
These expressions in the Arab peace initiative are inspirational and promising – a serious opening to what may become real progress and a great reality.
A comprehensive regional peace requires the completion of the bilateral negotiations with the Palestinians and sharing the painful cost.
With me is our Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni who conducts these negotiations. She just came back from Sharm el-Sheck saying that in spite of the elections in Israel, we are going to continue to negotiate.
We are ready for this as we have proved many times in the past.
Mr. President,
30 years ago, we had a peace accord with Egypt;
Mr. Secretary-General,
Your Majesties,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Earlier this week, we commemorated 13 years since the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin – my friend and partner to our journey. He was murdered while singing a song of peace.
Assassins may take a life, but they cannot kill a dream. That fateful night at the square, we stood together and sang of peace, the aspiration of my people for generations and generations.
Then came three shots.
However, we were not alone in our despair. Many who cherished Rabin’s vision from around the world came to stand at our side and share our grief. Arab and Muslim leaders came, and we appreciated it very much, and at the time it felt like sorrow shattered barriers.
Tragedy had united sons and daughters of all religions. Our shared agony shed light on our shared hopes, our hunger for fraternity, a dream of peace which we nurtured in our hearts.
Mr. President,
In our region, children bear the names of prophets who are sacred to us all. Abraham, Avraham, Ibrahim grow up as adversaries, in animosity. Why? Why should Moses, Moshe, and Musa live that way? As our prophets asked: “Have we not all one father? Hath not one God created us? Why do we deal deceitfully every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?”
And Abraham added and asked to his nephew Lot: “Please let there be no strife between me and you, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are kinsmen.”
That was the first call of peace among brothers in history. Brotherly relations should not involve violence or domination. We all worship the same Lord in Heaven. Religion carries the word of God to man, as it is written in Psalms: “What man is he that desires life and loves many days that he may see good? Depart from evil and do good. Seek peace and pursue it.”
Religious belief requires that we recognize the eternal message that all men were created in God’s image. Harming a human being is tantamount to harming God himself. When nuclear weapons, long-range missiles, indiscriminate terror and fanatical incitement determine the agenda, we have all of us to change that agenda.
Mr. President,
The Jewish and Arab national revivals occurred at almost the same time and in almost the same piece of land. They occurred rapidly and in a land that was small in a time that was short.
However, after the First World War, a window of opportunity was opened when Emir Feisal and President Weizmann aspired to create a new environment. They met 89 years ago, in November of 1919 to announce an understanding between the two peoples from the same crib, who could have lived under the shadow of the same trees – old olives and tall dates.
Their declaration, and I quote, was: “Mindful of the racial kinship and ancient bonds existing between the Arabs and the Jewish people, and realizing that the surest means of working out the consummation of their national aspirations, is through the closest possible collaboration.”
This was great a statesmanship and in a timely wisdom.
Alas, we did not take heed of them.
Instead, we confronted one another, abandoning faith for greed and forging swords instead of peace. They tore apart the land and increased hostility, resulting in a region of barriers and walls that rose higher and higher, destroying any bridges that may have been built.
Hundreds of thousands of men and women from all sides lost their lives. Many were incurably injured; others lost their homes and became refugees.
Fortunes were wasted on the purchase, and maintenance and replacement of weapons and new weapons that inevitably became obsolete – resources were spent on sustaining hostility instead of advancing life.
There can not be any consolation for the bereaved families or orphaned children other than the end of violence and bloodshed.
There is an Arab proverb that states that there are three events that cannot be reversed: an arrow released from its bow; a word which has escaped one’s mouth; and a bullet that splits the heart.
Alas, we cannot change the past. However, we can build and shape our future. This seems more feasible today in light of the Saudi proposal which evolved into an Arab peace initiative.
Your majesty, the King of Saudi Arabia, I was listening to your message. I wish that your voice will become the prevailing voice of the whole region, of all people. It is right, it is needed, it is promising.
The initiative’s portrayal of our region’s future provides hope to the people and inspires confidence in the nations.
Yes – in order to change the world we have to change ourselves.
The Arab peace initiative states that: “A military solution to the conflict will not achieve peace or provide security for the parties.”
Israel agrees with this assumption.
Then it continues: “A just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East is the strategic option of the Arab countries.”
Ladies and Gentlemen, this is also the strategic option of Israel.
And it goes on and says that the goals are to: “…consider the Arab-Israeli conflict ended, and enter into a peace agreement with Israel, and provide security for all the states in the region.”
And it continues: “Establish normal relations with Israel in the context of comprehensive peace. Stop the further shedding of blood, enabling the Arab countries and Israel to live in peace and good neighborliness, and provide future generations with security, stability and prosperity.”
These expressions in the Arab peace initiative are inspirational and promising – a serious opening to what may become real progress and a great reality.
A comprehensive regional peace requires the completion of the bilateral negotiations with the Palestinians and sharing the painful cost.
With me is our Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni who conducts these negotiations. She just came back from Sharm el-Sheck saying that in spite of the elections in Israel, we are going to continue to negotiate.
We are ready for this as we have proved many times in the past.
Mr. President,
30 years ago, we had a peace accord with Egypt;
15 years ago, with the Palestinians in the Oslo initiative;
14 years ago, peace with the Kingdom of Jordan;
9 years ago, we withdrew completely from Lebanon;
3 years ago, we evacuated Gaza completely and dismantled willingly all our settlements. It wasn’t simple.
Today we are making progress with the negotiations with the Palestinians; we are exploring the possibility of real peace with the Syrians. They are the last in the list of the historic conflicts.
However, there are those in our region who sow hatred and try to widen the abyss and erect barriers, those who seek to wipe out other people and encourage killing as though they were Gods.
In order to stand up against those who instigate discord and violence, we must bear the flag of brotherhood and peace. This will be a beacon for a world in trouble. It will end many conflicts and offer a comprehensive peace for all people – real freedom without domination or occupation; global economic cooperation and cultural relations – a new vision for the entire region.
I know it is harder to pursue peace than to wage war; building is more difficult than destruction. Yet, this is my life experience –– it is worthwhile to strive for peace and build homes, to respect human rights.
This is the proper biography for men of good will.
For the sake of our children, let us break the bonds of hostility which stem from the past.
When the world faces a serious crisis, let us offer a new remedy to overcome old maladies. The global crisis worries us just as our crisis worries the world. However, we can adopt a position acceptable to the entire world without erasing our national identities and offering global opportunities.
This meeting of religious leaders can produce a movement of profound significance and one which will bear great responsibility. By calling on their believers to serve peace in every nation for all nations, for every person and for all peoples, to build a bridge that will render the barriers useless.
Let us free the world from the perception that an irrevocable curse darkens the skies of our region. Our shared history has known golden ages during which we – Arabs, Jews and Christians -- lived as friends and brothers.
Inter-faith dialogue will elevate our spirits, bring a breath of fresh air to our peoples today and live on in posterity. Let us renew our faith in one God, in a God of values, in a God of respect of human life.
This is the duty and responsibility of all states and religious leaders. Let us not recoil from hardship; we must not hesitate when faced with risk.
Working for peace will justify our prayers and bring a new sense of purpose to our lives; it will demonstrate our values to our children, all values to all children.
Peace is not just a goal. It is a promise made to us at the dawn of time and at the pinnacle of the holiest mountain.
Dear friends,
Let’s climb together to those mountains and breathe fresh air and a new landscape.
