Remarks delivered by Dr. Henry A. Kissinger at the presentation of the 1993 Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize.

Paris, France

July 6, 1994

No region has produced more dramatic personalities and exalted visions than the Middle East. Its deserts, punctuated by verdant oases and stark mountains, have been the origin of three of the world's great religions. Geography sets no bounds to the human imagination; only the dedicated can thrive amidst such severities of climate and topography; man is sustained above all by faith and the intangibles of human relationships; it is an arena for prophets and heroes. The line from what the West considers empirical reality to passionate rhetoric and a policy of exaltation is easily crossed.

In this cauldron, the conflict between Arabs and Israel-- and especially between Palestinians and Israelis--has festered for the better part of this century. At first Zionism and Arab nationalism, both products of the indignities suffered by their peoples in the 19th century, were not directed against each other. Only when the centuries-old Ottoman rule was replaced by the British mandate, and self-determination for Palestine came into view did the Arab and Jewish peoples clash over the content and meaning of that term. Having some experience with persecution in my youth, I have always felt for the Jewish yearning for a homeland, and our Israeli honorees have been friends of many decades. But as a historian, I can also understand that a territory whose mystique survived in Jewish hearts for two thousand years is unlikely to lose its hold over Palestinian hearts after but a half century. The vast, indeed heroic, task before our honorees is to convert this shared love of the land of Palestine, so long a source of division, into the impetus of reconciliation. In this spirit I welcome Chairman Arafat, with whom I have been unable to communicate these many years, though it is safe to say we were not unaware of each other.

Because each side has represented a truth, the conflict has been intractable in the past. And the Cold War froze the stalemate without easing the passion. Gradually leaders emerged on both sides who felt their way toward a comprehension of the psychological origins of the conflict. Anwar Sadat, Golda Meir, Prime Minister Begin, President Mubarak all made major contributions to peace. My own country on many occasions played a significant role. I want to pay special tribute to former President Jimmy Carter, who brokered the Egyptian-Israeli peace agreement, and former Secretary of State James Baker, who for the first time brought together all the Arab parties, including the Palestinians, into the same room with Israeli negotiators.

2

But it is the historic achievement of our honorees that they overrode--for at least one hopeful moment--the verities of distrust and fear of a generation of Israelis and Palestinians and that they have sketched a road map toward peace which, if successful, will dwarf all previous achievements. The Egyptian-Israeli peace agreement provided, in perhaps its most central provisions, for a buffer zone between the previous enemies. Yet in Palestine no buffer zones are conceivable. The parties are obliged--indeed condemned--to live together. Conflict has been their history; first coexistence and then cooperation--we pray--shall be their destiny.

Not enough tribute can be paid to Johan Holst, Foreign Minister of Norway, who facilitated the breakthrough and who is deeply missed. But the final credit must go to our honorees. They have made a leap of faith; measured in the pain they must feel at the opposition they encountered from comrades of many previous battles. Nor can they themselves be totally free of the doubts that assail not a few on both sides. Is the agreement a genuine commitment or a tactic in a continuing struggle? Was it produced by exhaustion or by conviction?

The members of the jury over which I had the honor to preside were themselves only too aware of these ambiguities. But as we did when we awarded this Prize to Mandela and De Klerk before they completed their historic agreement three years ago, we opted to express our faith in the hopes of our honorees and not their doubts, the dreams they expressed and not the second thoughts they may harbor. Too many have died, too many hopes have been blighted for us to do less than honor the best outcome and not the worst. We pay our honorees this tribute as an expression of our respect and our faith: that they conclude what they have started, that at the end of the process the Israeli people gain security, the Palestinian people dignity, and all people living in Palestine live together in a harmony worthy of the prophets and biblical figures that bestrode their lands, and worthy also of the suffering and faith that has brought all parties this far.

So if our honorees will step forward, it will be my privilege to confer on them the Houphouët-Boigny Prize for 1993.

As Delivered - July 6, 1994

No region has produced more dramatic personalities and exalted visions than the Middle East. Its deserts, punctuated by verdant oases and stark mountains setting off seemingly limitless plains, have been the origin of three of the world's great religions. Geography sets no bounds to the human imagination; only the dedicated can thrive amidst such severities of climate and topography; man is sustained above all by faith and the intangibles of human relationships; it is an arena for prophets and heroes. The line from what the West considers empirical reality to passionate rhetoric and a policy of exaltation is easily crossed.

In this cauldron, the conflict between Arabs and Israel-- and especially between Palestinians and Israelis--has festered for the better part of this century. At first Zionism and Arab nationalism, both products of the indignities suffered by their votaries in the late 19th century, were not directed against each other. Only when the centuries-old Ottoman rule was replaced by the British mandate, and self-determination for Palestine came

2

into view did the Arab and Jewish peoples clash over the content
and meaning of that term. Having some experience with
persecution in my youth, I have always sympathized with the
Jewish yearning for their historic homeland, and our Israeli
honorees have been friends of many decades. But as a historian,
I can also understand that a territory whose mystique survived in
Jewish hearts for two thousand years is unlikely to lose its hold
over Palestinian hearts after but a half century. In this spirit
I welcome Chairman Arafat, with whom I have been unable to
communicate these many years, though it is safe to say we were
not unaware of each other.

This shared love of the land, so long a source of division,
must become now the impetus of reconciliation. Because each side
represented a truth, the conflict has been intractable, and the
Cold War froze the stalemate without easing the passion.

3

But it is the historic achievement of our honorees that they
overrode--for at least one hopeful moment--the verities of
distrust and fear of a generation and that they have sketched a
road map toward peace which, if successful, will dwarf all
previous achievements. The Egyptian-Israeli peace agreement
provided, in perhaps its most central provisions, for a buffer
zone between the previous enemies. Yet in Palestine no buffer
zones are conceivable. The parties are obliged--indeed
condemned--to live together. Conflict has been their history;
coexistence--we pray--shall be their destiny.

4

feel at the opposition they encountered from comrades in previous
battles. Nor can they themselves be free of the doubts that
assail so many on both sides. Is the agreement a genuine
commitment or a tactic in a continuing struggle? Was it produced
by exhaustion or by conviction?

The members of the jury over which I had the honor to
preside were themselves only too aware of these controversies.
But as we did when we awarded this Prize to Mandela and De Klerk
three years ago, we opted for a show of our faith in the hopes of
our honorees and not their doubts, the dreams they expressed and
not the second thoughts they may harbor. Too many have died, too
many hopes have been blighted for us to do less than honor the
best outcome and not the worst. We pay our honorees this tribute
as an expression of our respect and our faith: that they conclude
what they have started, that at the end of the process the
Israeli people gain security, the Palestinian people dignity, and
all people living in Palestine live together in a harmony worthy
of the prophets that bestrode their lands, and of the suffering
and faith that has brought all parties this far.

1

NO REGION HAS PRODUCED MORE DRAMATIC PERSONALITIES AND EXALTED VISIONS THAN THE MIDDLE EAST. ITS DESERTS, PUNCTUATED BY VERDANT OASES AND STARK MOUNTAINS SETTING OFF SEEMINGLY LIMITLESS PLAINS, HAVE BEEN THE ORIGIN OF THREE OF THE WORLD'S GREAT RELIGIONS. GEOGRAPHY SETS NO BOUNDS TO THE HUMAN IMAGINATION; ONLY THE DEDICATED CAN THRIVE AMIDST SUCH SEVERITIES OF CLIMATE AND TOPOGRAPHY; MAN IS SUSTAINED ABOVE ALL BY FAITH AND THE INTANGIBLES OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS; IT IS AN ARENA FOR PROPHETS AND HEROES. THE LINE FROM WHAT THE WEST CONSIDERS EMPIRICAL REALITY TO PASSIONATE RHETORIC AND A POLICY OF EXALTATION IS EASILY CROSSED.

IN THIS CAULDRON, THE CONFLICT BETWEEN ARABS AND ISRAEL-- AND ESPECIALLY BETWEEN PALESTINIANS AND ISRAELIS--HAS FESTERED FOR THE BETTER PART OF THIS CENTURY. AT FIRST ZIONISM AND ARAB NATIONALISM, BOTH PRODUCTS OF THE INDIGNITIES SUFFERED BY THEIR VOTARIES IN THE LATE 19TH CENTURY, WERE NOT DIRECTED AGAINST EACH OTHER. ONLY WHEN THE CENTURIES-OLD OTTOMAN RULE WAS REPLACED BY THE BRITISH MANDATE, AND SELF-DETERMINATION FOR PALESTINE CAME

[10]

2

INTO VIEW DID THE ARAB AND JEWISH PEOPLE'S CLASH OVER THE CONTENT
AND MEANING OF THAT TERM. HAVING SOME EXPERIENCE WITH
PERSECUTION IN MY YOUTH, I HAVE ALWAYS SYMPATHIZED WITH THE
JEWISH YEARNING FOR THEIR HISTORIC HOMELAND, AND OUR ISRAELI
HONOREES HAVE BEEN FRIENDS OF MANY DECADES. BUT AS A HISTORIAN,
I CAN ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT A TERRITORY WHOSE MYSTIQUE SURVIVED IN
JEWISH HEARTS FOR TWO THOUSAND YEARS IS UNLIKELY TO LOSE ITS HOLD
OVER PALESTINIAN HEARTS AFTER BUT A HALF CENTURY. IN THIS SPIRIT
I WELCOME CHAIRMAN ARAFAT, WITH WHOM I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO
COMMUNICATE THESE MANY YEARS, THOUGH IT IS SAFE TO SAY WE WERE
NOT UNAWARE OF EACH OTHER.

THIS SHARED LOVE OF THE LAND, SO LONG A SOURCE OF DIVISION,
MUST BECOME NOW THE IMPETUS OF RECONCILIATION. BECAUSE EACH SIDE
REPRESENTED A TRUTH, THE CONFLICT HAS BEEN INTRACTABLE, AND THE
COLD WAR FROZE THE STALEMATE WITHOUT EASING THE PASSION.
GRADUALLY LEADERS EMERGED ON BOTH SIDES WHO FELT THEIR WAY TOWARD
A COMPREHENSION OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL ORIGINS OF THE CONFLICT.
ANWAR SADAT, GOLDA MEIR, PRIME MINISTER BEGIN, PRESIDENT MUBARAK
ALL MADE MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO PEACE. MY OWN COUNTRY ON MANY
OCCASIONS PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE. I WANT TO PAY SPECIAL

3

[Lc]

TRIBUTE TO FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER, WHO BROKERED THE EGYPTIAN-ISRAELI PEACE AGREEMENT, AND FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE JAMES BAKER, WHO FOR THE FIRST TIME BROUGHT TOGETHER ALL THE ARAB PARTIES, INCLUDING THE PALESTINIANS, INTO THE SAME ROOM WITH ISRAELI NEGOTIATORS.

BUT IT IS THE HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENT OF OUR HONOREES THAT THEY OVERRODE--FOR AT LEAST ONE HOPEFUL MOMENT--THE VERITIES OF DISTRUST AND FEAR OF A GENERATION AND THAT THEY HAVE SKETCHED A ROAD MAP TOWARD PEACE WHICH, IF SUCCESSFUL, WILL DWARF ALL PREVIOUS ACHIEVEMENTS. THE EGYPTIAN-ISRAELI PEACE AGREEMENT PROVIDED, IN PERHAPS ITS MOST CENTRAL PROVISIONS, FOR A BUFFER ZONE BETWEEN THE PREVIOUS ENEMIES. YET IN PALESTINE NO BUFFER ZONES ARE CONCEIVABLE. THE PARTIES ARE OBLIGED--INDEED CONDEMNED--TO LIVE TOGETHER. CONFLICT HAS BEEN THEIR HISTORY; COEXISTENCE--WE PRAY--SHALL BE THEIR DESTINY.

NOT ENOUGH TRIBUTE CAN BE PAID TO JOHAN HOLST, FOREIGN MINISTER OF NORWAY, WHO FACILITATED THE BREAKTHROUGH AND WHO IS DEEPLY MISSED. BUT THE FINAL CREDIT MUST GO TO OUR HONOREES. THEY HAVE MADE A LEAP OF FAITH, MEASURED IN THE PAIN THEY MUST

[Lc]

4

FEEL AT THE OPPOSITION THEY ENCOUNTER FROM COMRADES IN PREVIOUS BATTLES. NOR CAN THEY THEMSELVES BE FREE OF THE DOUBTS THAT ASSAIL SO MANY ON BOTH SIDES. IS THE AGREEMENT A GENUINE COMMITMENT OR A TACTIC IN A CONTINUING STRUGGLE? WAS IT PRODUCED BY EXHAUSTION OR BY CONVICTION?

THE MEMBERS OF THE JURY OVER WHICH I HAD THE HONOR TO PRESIDE WERE THEMSELVES ONLY TOO AWARE OF THESE CONTROVERSIES. BUT AS WE DID WHEN WE AWARDED THIS PRIZE TO MANDELA AND DE KLERK THREE YEARS AGO, WE OPTED FOR A SHOW OF OUR FAITH IN THE HOPES OF OUR HONOREES AND NOT THEIR DOUBTS, THE DREAMS THEY EXPRESSED AND NOT THE SECOND THOUGHTS THEY MAY HARBOR. TOO MANY HAVE DIED, TOO MANY HOPES HAVE BEEN BLIGHTED FOR US TO DO LESS THAN HONOR THE BEST OUTCOME AND NOT THE WORST. WE PAY OUR HONOREES THIS TRIBUTE AS AN EXPRESSION OF OUR RESPECT AND OUR FAITH: THAT THEY CONCLUDE WHAT THEY HAVE STARTED, THAT AT THE END OF THE PROCESS THE ISRAELI PEOPLE GAIN SECURITY, THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE DIGNITY, AND ALL PEOPLE LIVING IN PALESTINE LIVE TOGETHER IN A HARMONY WORTHY OF THE PROPHETS THAT BESTRODE THEIR LANDS, AND OF THE SUFFERING AND FAITH THAT HAS BROUGHT ALL PARTIES THIS FAR.

JUL 05 '94 14:04 212-759-0042

P.2/6

C4J

1

Peace award
speed

Phenotype

NO REGION HAS PRODUCED MORE DRAMATIC PERSONALITIES AND EXALTED VISIONS THAN THE MIDDLE EAST. ITS DESERTS, PUNCTUATED BY VERDANT OASES AND STARK MOUNTAINS, SETTING UP SEVERELY LIMITLESS AREAS HAVE BEEN THE ORIGIN OF THREE OF THE WORLD'S GREAT RELIGIONS. GEOGRAPHY SETS NO BOUNDS TO THE HUMAN IMAGINATION; ONLY THE DEDICATED CAN THRIVE AMIDST SUCH SEVERITIES OF CLIMATE AND TOPOGRAPHY; MAN IS SUSTAINED ABOVE ALL BY FAITH AND THE INTANGIBLES OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS; IT IS AN ARENA FOR PROPHETS AND HEROES. THE LINE FROM WHAT THE WEST CONSIDERS EMPIRICAL REALITY TO PASSIONATE RHETORIC AND A POLICY OF EXALTATION IS EASILY CROSSED.

IN THIS CAULDRON, THE CONFLICT BETWEEN ARABS AND ISRAEL -- AND ESPECIALLY BETWEEN PALESTINIANS AND ISRAELIS--HAS FESTERED FOR THE BETTER PART OF THIS CENTURY. AT FIRST ZIONISM AND ARAB NATIONALISM, BOTH PRODUCTS OF THE INDIGNITIES SUFFERED BY THEIR PEOPLE, -- IN THE 19TH CENTURY, WERE NOT DIRECTED AGAINST EACH OTHER. ONLY WHEN THE CENTURIES-OLD OTTOMAN RULE WAS REPLACED BY THE BRITISH MANDATE, AND SELF-DETERMINATION FOR PALESTINE CAME

JUL 05 '94 14:04 212-759-0042

P.3/6

2

INTO VIEW DID THE ARAB AND JEWISH PEOPLE'S CLASH OVER THE CONTENT AND MEANING OF THAT TERM. HAVING SOME EXPERIENCE WITH PERSECUTION IN MY YOUTH, I HAVE ALWAYS SYMPATHIZED WITH THE JEWISH YEARNING FOR THEIR HISTORICAL HOMELAND, AND OUR ISRAELI HONOREES HAVE BEEN FRIENDS OF MANY DECADES. BUT AS A HISTORIAN, I CAN ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT A TERRITORY WHOSE MYSTIQUE SURVIVED IN JEWISH HEARTS FOR TWO THOUSAND YEARS IS UNLIKELY TO LOSE ITS HOLD OVER PALESTINIAN HEARTS AFTER BUT A HALF CENTURY. IN THIS SPIRIT I WELCOME CHAIRMAN ARAFAT, WITH WHOM I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE THESE MANY YEARS, THOUGH IT IS SAFE TO SAY WE WERE NOT UNAWARE OF EACH OTHER.

THE VAST, INDEED HEROIC TASK BEFORE US, OUR HONOREES IS TO FULFILL. CONSIDER THIS SHARED LOVE OF THE LAND, SO LONG A SOURCE OF DIVISION, SUPPLY, AND POWER TO MEET THE IMPETUS OF RECONCILIATION. BECAUSE EACH SIDE HAS REPRESENTED A TRUTH, THE CONFLICT HAS BEEN INTRACTABLE, AND THE COLD WAR PROZE THE STALEMATE WITHOUT EASING THE PASSIONS IN THE PAST. GRADUALLY LEADERS EMERGED ON BOTH SIDES WHO FELT THEIR WAY TOWARD A COMPREHENSION OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL ORIGINS OF THE CONFLICT.

3

BUT IT IS THE HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENT OF OUR HONOREES THAT THEY OVERRODE--FOR AT LEAST ONE HOPEFUL MOMENT--THE VERITIES OF ISRAEL AND PALESTINE DISTRUST AND FEAR OF A GENERATION AND THAT THEY HAVE SKETCHED A ROAD MAP TOWARD PEACE WHICH, IF SUCCESSFUL, WILL DWARF ALL PREVIOUS ACHIEVEMENTS. THE EGYPTIAN-ISRAELI PEACE AGREEMENT PROVIDED, IN PERHAPS ITS MOST CENTRAL PROVISIONS, FOR A BUFFER ZONE BETWEEN THE PREVIOUS ENEMIES. YET IN PALESTINE NO BUFFER ZONES ARE CONCEIVABLE. THE PARTIES ARE OBLIGED--INDEED CONDEMNED--TO LIVE TOGETHER. CONFLICT HAS BEEN THEIR HISTORY; COEXISTENCE--WE PRAY--SHALL BE THEIR DESTINY.

P.1/1

JUL 05 '94 15:22 212-759-0042

JUL 05 '94 14:09 212-759-0042

P.2/3

4

FEEL AT THE OPPOSITION THEY ENCOUNTER FROM COMRADES IN PREVIOUS BATTLES. NOR CAN THEY THEMSELVES BE FREE OF THE DOUBTS THAT NOT A FEEL ASSATI. SO MANY ON BOTH SIDES. IS THE AGREEMENT A GENUINE COMMITMENT OR A TACTIC IN A CONTINUING STRUGGLE? WAS IT PRODUCED BY EXHAUSTION OR BY CONVICTION?

THE MEMBERS OF THE JURY OVER WHICH I HAD THE HONOR TO PRESIDE WERE THEMSELVES ONLY TOO AWARE OF THESE CONTROVERSIES. BUT AS WE DID WHEN WE AWARDED THIS PRIZE TO MANDELA AND DE KLERK BEFORE THEY AMPLIFIED THREE YEARS AGO, WE OPTED FOR A SHOW OF OUR FAITH IN THE HOPES OF OUR HONOREES AND NOT THEIR DOUBTS, THE DREAMS THEY EXPRESSED AND NOT THE SECOND THOUGHTS THEY MAY HARBOR. TOO MANY HAVE DIED, TOO MANY HOPES HAVE BEEN BLIGHTED FOR US TO DO LESS THAN HONOR THE BEST OUTCOME AND NOT THE WORST. WE PAY OUR HONOREES THIS TRIBUTE AS AN EXPRESSION OF OUR RESPECT AND OUR FAITH: THAT THEY CONCLUDE WHAT THEY HAVE STARTED, THAT AT THE END OF THE PROCESS THE ISRAELI PEOPLE GAIN SECURITY, THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE DIGNITY, AND ALL PEOPLE LIVING IN PALESTINE LIVE TOGETHER IN A HARMONY WORTHY OF THE PROPHETS THAT BESTRODE THEIR LANDS, AND OF THE SUFFERING AND FAITH THAT HAS BROUGHT ALL PARTIES THIS FAR.

1

No region has produced more dramatic personalities and exalted visions than the Middle East. Its deserts, punctuated by verdant oases and stark mountains setting off seemingly limitless plains, have been the origin of three of the world's great religions. Geography sets no bounds to the human imagination; only the dedicated can thrive amidst such extremes of climate and topography; man is sustained above all by faith and the intangibles of human relationships. The line is easily crossed from what the West considers empirical reality to passionate rhetoric and a policy of exaltation.

In this cauldron, the conflict between Arabs and Israel-- and especially between Palestinians and Israelis--has festered for the better part of this century. At first Zionism and Arab nationalism, both products of the indignities suffered by their notaries (?) in the late 19th century, were not directed against each other. Only when the centuries-old Ottoman rule was replaced by the British mandate, and self-determination for Palestine came into view did the Arab and Jewish peoples clash over the content and meaning of that self-determination and dignity. As a victim of Nazi persecutions, I have always sympathized with the Jewish yearning for their historic homeland. But as a historian, I can also understand the Arab grievance that

2

they are being made to atone for iniquities committed in distant
lands and in which they did not participate. And a territory
whose mystique survived in Jewish hearts for two thousand years
is unlikely to lose its hold over Palestinian hearts after but a
half century.

Because each side represented a truth, the conflict has been
intractable, and the Cold War froze the stalemate without easing
the passion. Gradually leaders on both sides emerged who felt
their way toward a comprehension of the psychological wants (?)
of the conflict. Anwar Sadat, Golda Meir, Prime Minister Begin,
President Mubarak all made major contributions to unraveling the
tensions. My own country on many occasions played a significant
role. I want to pay special tribute to former President Jimmy
Carter, who brokered the Egyptian-Israeli peace agreement, and
former Secretary of State James Baker, who for the first time
brought all the Arab parties, including the Palestinians, into
the same room with Israeli negotiators.

But it is the historic achievement of our honorees that they
overrode--for at least one hopeful moment--the verities of
distrust and fear of a generation and developed a road map toward
peace which, if successful, will dwarf all previous achievements.
The Egyptian-Israeli peace agreement provided, in perhaps its
most central provisions, for a buffer zone between the previous
enemies. But in Palestine no buffer zones are conceivable. The

3

parties are doomed to live together; their challenge is
coexistence even more than peace.

Not enough tribute can be paid to Johannes Holst, Foreign
Minister of Norway, who facilitated the breakthrough and who is
deeply missed. But the final credit must go to our honorees. No
outsider can fully understand the pain they must feel at the
controversies and anguish they have generated among their
followers. Nor can they be free of the doubts that assail so
many on both sides. Is the agreement a genuine commitment or a
tactic in a continuing struggle? Was it produced by exhaustion
or by conviction?

The members of the jury over which I had the honor to
preside were not free of these doubts. But as we did when we
awarded this Prize to Mandela and De Klerk three years ago, we
decided to show our faith in the hopes of our honorees and not
their doubts, the dreams they expressed and not the second
thoughts they may harbor. Too many have died, too many hopes
have been blighted. We pay them this expression of our respect
and our faith: that they conclude what they have started, that at
the end of the process the Israeli people gain security, the
Palestinian people dignity, and all people living in Palestine
live together in a harmony worthy of the peoples that bestrode
their lands, and thus be worthy of the suffering and faith that
has brought them this far.

JUL 05 '94 11:04 212-759-0042

P.3/5

2

They are being made to alone for inquiries committed in dislands and in which they did not participate, and a territory whose mystique survived in Jewish hearts for two thousand years is unlikely to lose its hold over Palestinian hearts after but a half century. In this spirit & welcomelem Arafad with whom I have been unable to communicate for many years although it is safe to say we were not unamused of ed & att.

because each side represented a truth, the conflict has been intractable, and the Cold War froze the stalemate without easing the passion. Gradually leaders on both sides emerged who felt their way toward a comprehension of the psychological crisis of the conflict. Anwar Sadat, Golda Meir, Prime Minister Begin, President Mubarak all made major contributions to bringing the tensions My own country on many occasions played a significant role. I want to pay special tribute to former President Jimmy Carter, who brokered the Egyptian-Israeli peace agreement, and former Secretary of State James Baker, who for the first time brought all the Arab parties, including the Palestinians, into the same room with Israeli negotiators.

But it is the historic achievement of our honorees that they overrode--for at least one hopeful moment--the varieties of distrust and fear of a generation and developed a road map toward peace which, if successful, will dwarf all previous achievements. The Egyptian-Israeli peace agreement provided, in perhaps its most central provisions, for a buffer zone between the previous enemies. In Palestine no buffer zones are conceivable. The

This placed love of the land so by a race of division must become more the import of annihilation