AIPAC SPEECH 2013 - MINISTER OF

AIPAC SPEECH 2013 - MINISTER OF DEFENSE - EHUD BARAK • Thank you for such a warm welcome. • What an indescribable feeling to be surrounded by so many true friends in the capital of the world's greatest democracy. • Members of the Administration, Members of Congress, distinguished ambassadors, especially our ambassador Michael Oren.... Michael, Rosey, Bob, David, Howard and Richard, AIPAC members... older and young... • Good evening to you all. • It is your toil and your graft — your unwavering support — that keep us safe. • I have six humble words for all of you: Thank you, thank you, thank you. • I would like to express my personal appreciation to President Obama and Secretary Panetta for their resolute backing of Israel. 1 EFTA01137235 • History will surely record your immeasurable contribution to the strength of Israel, and the maintenance of the truly special relationship between our peoples. • On behalf of the people of Israel, I wish Secretary Hagel all the best in his new role. • As Secretary of Defense he will, no doubt, serve his country with the same pride and honor with which he served, both on the battlefield and in Congress. • It is great to see so many young activists here. Thank you for your energetic commitment to Israel! • A commitment which is so lucidly dictated by the head... yet so deeply underpinned by the heart... • Keep it up — you are the future! ************************************ 2 EFTA01137236 • It is thanks to the rock solid US-Israel relationship, alongside the devotion of the young men and women of the IDF, that our capacity to defend ourselves, has been guaranteed for years to come! • With US support, combined with the ingenuity of our scientists; Israel finds itself at the cutting edge of missile defense technology. • The 'Iron Dome' recently intercepted over 400 incoming terrorist rockets. Practically — this is like hitting a bullet... with a bullet! • Just last week, we — the US and Israel — conducted a successful exo-atmospheric test of the Arrow 3 interceptor. • The State of Israel simply would not be the strong island of stability it is, without one crucial constant. • You! The United States of America. Its people. Its leadership. Its Congress. Its Jewish community. 3 EFTA01137237 *********************************** • It is no secret, and I'll repeat it again, that we live in a tough neighborhood, where there is no mercy for the weak. And no second chance for those who cannot defend themselves. • Israel is the strongest country in the region and the only genuinely open democracy. • An unprecedented geopolitical earthquake in the last three years has shattered the generations' old regional order. • There are two clear lessons and one insight which I have drawn from this period: • # 1: Be modest with predictions especially about the future! Take Egypt as an example; Mubarak was unable to predict it... who did? Who thinks he could? • #2: When friends tell me: Don't worry... If worse comes to worst ... the world will step forward and act! 4 EFTA01137238 • My answer is: Do not take this for granted. • Look at Syria — you don't need classified intelligence; it's on your screens. Assad's jet fighters, tanks and artillery are slaughtering his own citizens. Over 70,000 Syrians killed. • Yet still... there is no sense of direction and no political will to act. • There is an extremely relevant lesson here... especially for all of us in Israel. • And an insight... • Many believe that the root cause for all the problems in the Middle East... is our inability to solve the conflict with the Palestinians. • Well, I say... That's not true! • Recent developments in the Middle East have been far beyond our control... and independent of our deeds. • Even if a peace agreement with the Palestinians had been signed and sealed a long time ago: EFTA01137239 o The Muslim Brotherhood would still have come to power in Egypt o Syria would still be mired in a bloody civil war o And Iran would still be pursuing nuclear capabilities and a hegemonic role in the Gulf • And ladies and gentlemen, • It is Iran's pursuit of nuclear capabilities which is the greatest challenge facing Israel, the region and the world today... • A nuclear Iran spells the end of any conceivable non-proliferation regime. • Saudi Arabia, Turkey and later Egypt will follow suit. In the future, even terrorist groups may try. • Diplomatic efforts continue. Sanctions are unprecedented and hurting, but frankly — while exhausting all diplomatic means is understandable — I do not believe it will lead to 6 EFTA01137240 a "moment of truth", where the Ayatollahs will give up their nuclear aspirations. • Therefore, all options must remain on the table. • We have stated this time and again. • And we expect all those who say it... to mean it... • Ladies and gentlemen... We mean it. • And let me repeat it: we... mean it. ************************************** 7 EFTA01137241 • A nuclear Iran is the most imminent and acute danger to the stability of the entire region. But it is not the only one: • Radical Islamist terror is spreading rapidly. • And the accumulation of missiles and rockets will necessitate regional missile defense. • So what is to be done? • It is an interregnum right now in Israel, and the new Netanyahu government will have to shape its approach. • But allow me, just before I leave my post, to share with you my positions: • The Middle East is a Gestalt — everything depends on everything else. • Facing this array of threats, we have to: • Firstly, start building a 'Regional Security Framework'... 8 EFTA01137242 • This should be built around the common challenges of radical Islamist terror, border security, missile defense... and of course, Iran. • And being led by the United States, it could provide a variety of synergies for all its regional participants. • Secondly, we need a daring peace initiative vis- a-vis the Palestinians. • A two-state solution is the only viable long- term solution. • It is a compelling imperative for us, in order to secure our identity and our future as a Jewish and democratic state; it's not a favor for the Palestinians... • Believe me, I tried hard as Prime Minister, together with President Clinton. So I know, from personal experience, that the Palestinians are not easy partners for peace. • Prime Minister Netanyahu has taken courageous steps, to renew the process including an unprecedented settlement freeze. 9 EFTA01137243 • But still — from the Palestinian side... no proper response. • They clearly bear most of the responsibility for past failures. • And I know, a fully fledged agreement is probably not feasible today, But if this is the case — and only a sincere effort can determine this — we have to try and achieve a reasonable, fair, interim agreement. • I strongly believe this is possible, while guaranteeing all our security and vital interests. • But if even an interim agreement is unobtainable, then we should consider unilateral steps, in order to place a wedge on this extremely dangerous slippery slope towards a binational state. • It involves demarcating a line within the land of Israel... Within which we will have the settlement blocs and a solid Jewish majority for generations to come. 10 EFTA01137244 • As well as setting security arrangements, and a solid Israeli, long-term military presence along the River Jordan. • Rest assured... our security should not — and will not — be compromised under any of these alternatives. • Tough decisions must be taken; but it is possible. • And as our sages teach us: "If not now... when?" • I strongly believe that this intertwined strategic triangle: • First, The Regional Security Framework • Second, a reinvigorated political process with the Palestinians... • And third: tackling Iran. • This triangle, is the most effective approach to deal with the challenges on our horizon. 11 EFTA01137245 ************************************* • Israel, has also been experiencing its own tremors of change. • In the summer of 2011, the people of Israel took to the streets... demanding a more equal allocation of the burden. • Just last month, 53 new, fresh members of the Knesset were sworn in, about half the serving members of Knesset ... (Present company included!)... were out. • That is what I call democracy in action. • A democracy I am proud of. • A democracy you can be proud of. • I am confident that Prime Minister Netanyahu will lead his new government with the same dedication and responsibility which he led the last. • Ladies and gentlemen, 12 EFTA01137246 • I was born 71 years ago, at the height of World War II; the Nazi crematoria in Europe were working day and night. • And now... in 2013, I am ending my tenure as the Minister of Defense of a strong, independent Jewish state. • Look at what we — as a nation — have achieved... Who would have believed it then? o Today we have an agile and adaptive high- tech and export oriented economy. o A start-up culture flourishes on an eruption of talent and an underlying entrepreneurial spirit. • I am optimistic, and my vision for Israel is clear: • A strong, self-confident, thriving Jewish, democratic state, living in peace and security with its neighbors. • An exemplary state and world leader in science, technology, education and culture. 13 EFTA01137247 • A country in which our children will want to live, and your children will be proud of. • Ladies and gentlemen, • We are at a decisive juncture in our history... • As President Kennedy noted during the Cuban Missile Crisis: o "The path we have chosen for the present is full of hazards, as all paths are. But it is the one most consistent with our character and courage as a nation..." • I believe we possess the character and courage as a nation to make those tough decisions for the future, peace and security of the State of Israel. • Please allow me to end with the millennia old blessing: o DC-NJ]. Inv nxi -la. ov.)n dn.. Inv'? II11 Dvin • May the Lord bestow his people with courage; may the Lord bless his people with peace. 14 EFTA01137248 • Thank you... 15 EFTA01137249