[R-G] Text of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon televised address

[Nick Morcinek]

Ariel Sharon is now, without a doubt, insane. Just reading this speech makes
that quite clear.



Citizens of Israel: The state of Israel is in a war, a war against
terrorism. This is a war that was imposed on us. It is not a war that we
decided to embark upon. This is a war over our home.

The state of Israel, under my direction, made all the efforts to arrive at a
ceasefire. All the time, since I was elected, in the midst of a wave of
Palestinian terror, we placed before us the goal of doing everything to
achieve calm and arrive at political accords.

We cooperated with the U.S. envoy, Anthony Zinni, and we received terrorism
in return. We acted together with Vice President Dick Cheney, and we
received terrorism in return.

We decided to advance the prospects of a ceasefire and concede my demand for
seven days of quiet, and we received terrorism in return. We withdrew
military forces from the cities, and we received terrorism in return.
Everything we received in return for our efforts was terrorism, terrorism
and more terrorism.

We must fight against this terrorism, fight with no compromise, pull up
these wild plants by the roots, smash their infrastructure, because there is
no compromise with terrorism. It is impossible to compromise with one who is
prepared, like the suicide bombers on the streets of Israel's cities, and in
the twin towers in the United States, to die only to kill innocent
civilians, children, women and infants. To die in order to cause fear and
horror.

This terrorism is activated, directed and initiated by one man - the
chairman of the Palestinian Authority, Yasser Arafat. Arafat is at the head
of a coalition of terrorism. He operates a strategy of terrorism.

The chairman of the Palestinian Authority is an enemy of Israel. He is the
enemy of the entire free world. Everyone who seeks freedom, everyone who was
brought up on the values of freedom and democracy must know that Arafat is
an obstacle to peace in the Mideast. Arafat is a danger to the whole region.

The Israeli government decided at its meeting on Thursday to begin a
wide-ranging operation to root out the terrorist infrastructure in the
Palestinian territories. We will clean out the terrorist infrastructure from
the foundations, because in the end we know that the only way to reach a
cease-fire, negotiations, an accord, an agreement and peace is if we succeed
in wiping out the terrorism infrastructure.

The state of Israel seeks peace. Our hand is and always will be extended for
peace with the Palestinian people and the people of the whole region. But no
one should be deluded. Our extended hand does not mean that we will give in
to terrorism or to terrorists.

Citizens of Israel: The state of Israel stands at a crossroads of its
history. The situation is not easy, but we have known worse situations than
this, and we overcame them all. This time, too, we will emerge victorious.
This time, too, we will win, and when that happens, we will be able to live
here together in peace.