Bush Urges Palestinians, Israelis to End Crisis, Move to Long-Term Solutions

(President discusses Mideast, war on terror in radio address) (750)

President Bush, in his weekly radio address to the nation April 20,
called on both Palestinians and Israelis to take action to end the
current Middle East crisis -- the Palestinian Authority by taking
steps to stop terror attacks, the Israelis by withdrawing from
Palestinian areas.

He added that "the only long-term solution is for two states -- Israel
and Palestine -- to live side by side in security and peace." Bush
said this will require "hard choices and real leadership by Israelis
and Palestinians, and their Arab neighbors."

The president also outlined advances in the war on terrorism
worldwide.

Following is the text of the radio address:

(begin text)

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
April 20, 2002

RADIO ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT TO THE NATION

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This week Secretary of State Colin Powell
returned from the Middle East and reported on his intensive and
productive meetings.

In this region, we are confronting hatred that is centuries old, and
disputes that have lingered for decades. Yet, America has a vision for
peace, and by calling all the leaders of the Middle East to their
responsibilities, Secretary Powell made progress toward peace.

To defuse the current crisis the Palestinian Authority must act on its
words of condemnation against terror. Israel must continue its
withdrawals. All Arab nations must confront terror in their own
region. All parties must stop funding or inciting terror, and must
state clearly that a murderer is not a martyr; he or she is just a
murderer.

All parties must realize that the only long-term solution is for two
states -- Israel and Palestine -- to live side by side in security and
peace. This will require hard choices and real leadership by Israelis
and Palestinians, and their Arab neighbors.

The time is now for all of us to make the choice for peace. America
will continue to work toward this vision of peace in the Middle East,
and America continues to press forward in our war against global
terror. We will use every available tool to tighten the noose around
the terrorists and their supporters. And when it comes to the threat
of terror, the only path to safety is the path of action.

In the days just after September the 11th, I told the American people
our war against terrorism would be a different war, fought on many
fronts. And we are making progress on many fronts. Yesterday the
United States and the world's other leading industrialized nations
blocked the financial assets of another 10 terrorists and terrorist
organizations. This joint action among close allies is an important
step in choking off the financial pipeline that pays for terrorist
training and attacks.

A total of 161 nations around the world have joined together to block
more than $100 million of suspected terrorist assets. The United
States also continues to work with our friends and allies around the
world to round up individual terrorists, such as Abu Zubaydah, a top
al Qaeda leader captured in Pakistan. From Spain to Singapore, our
partners are breaking up terrorist cells and disrupting their plans.
Altogether, more than 1,600 terrorists and their supporters have been
arrested or detained in 95 foreign nations.

In Afghanistan, the United States and its partners are pressing
forward with a military campaign against al Qaeda and the Taliban.
More than a dozen of our NATO allies are contributing forces to this
fight. Right now, hundreds of Royal Marines from Great Britain are
leading an operation to clear and seal off regions where our enemies
are trying to regroup to commit murder and mayhem, and to undermine
Afghanistan's efforts to build a lasting peace.

And we're working with nations such as Yemen, the Philippines and
Georgia that seek our help in training and equipping their military
forces to fight terror in some of the world's distant corners.

We're making progress. Yet nothing about this war will be quick or
easy. We face dangers and sacrifices ahead. America is ready; the
morale of our military is high; the will of our people is strong. We
are determined, we are steadfast, and we will continue for as long as
it takes, until the mission is done.

Thank you for listening.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)