We have, moreover, been expanding our ties economic and others with States in the region from the Maghreb to the Nile and up to the Gulf. Now, in order to complete this ever-widening circle of peace, we must also achieve progress with our northern neighbors, Syria and Lebanon, each of which we equally hope to join in a peace agreement. However, we must also reiterate that as a democratic state, where parliamentary debate is an essential component in the decision-making process on issues of national security, Israel simply cannot accept a precondition for beginning the talks. This is especially true when it is a precondition that demands a prior acceptance of the final outcome in accordance with the views of only one party. We believe that the history of Middle East peacemaking has shown that the forum best suited for presenting one s views is the negotiating room.
Negotiations are the basic bridge to peace.
It is time to talk. In these negotiations, Syria will find an Israeli partner willing to make the difficult decisions necessary in order to arrive together at a peace of the brave, a peace with honor. We envision this peace as containing a depth of territorial compromise commensurate with both the depth of peace, and the quality of the security arrangements that we are able to achieve. In addition, we wish to see Lebanon, as well, joining the camp of peacemakers. I would like to take this opportunity to restate that Israel never had, nor do we now have, any territorial claims or disputes with Lebanon.