Signing the Sharm El-Sheik Memorandum with our new partner Ihud Barak, under the auspices of President Mubarak, on implementing the Wye River Memorandum which was achieved thanks to the efforts of President Clinton, represented an opportunity to awaken the peace process out of its sleep. In spite of our happiness with signing this Memorandum and the start of implementing its articles especially withdrawal from the Palestinian Territory, release of prisoners and the opening of the safe passage, we feel great concern over the destructive dangers posed by the Israeli policy of settlements to the peace process which barely started to recuperate. The settlements are a threat to the whole process if these continue to expand and enlarge on our land in Jerusalem, around Bethlehem and in the West Bank and Gaza. The Government of Israel, therefore, has to cease this policy forthwith in order to save the hopes of peace that the peoples of the region have. Let us put an end in practice to decades of enmity, wars, occupation, eviction and exile.
Peace is a one-way road.
Let us together remove the obstacles facing us. Let us provide our children and grandchildren, with the coming of the 21st century with golden days, in which Palestinian and Israeli mothers and fathers will be sure that their sons and daughters will come home safe during the hours of night. Let us give them days where everyone will have the capability to exercise what you termed Mr. President Clinton, the magic of normal life, days where people can go to sleep soundly without fear or concern of what the morrow will bring for them, days where the refugees will be able to go back to their homes, prisoners to their families, where the oppressed will enjoy their freedom, where everyone will enjoy security and safety to be able to reap the fruits of development, prosperity and progress in our Holy Land. From this City, from Oslo, the glad tidings that started in Madrid were launched to the world six years ago bringing the news of a new age of peace in the Middle East. Let us go back now after meeting together here on this special occasion in commemoration of the passing away of a great statesman who was one of the makers of the historic turning point, let us go back and let us renew our promise of peace to our peoples.