Bill Clinton: “of Israel and an Exchange With Reporters July 15, 1999 President Clinton. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I am…”

“of Israel and an Exchange With Reporters July 15, 1999 President Clinton. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I am delighted to welcome Prime Minister Barak to Washington. As all of you know, he is the most decorated soldier in Israel's history. And as a soldier, as Army Chief of Staff, Interior Minister, and Foreign Minister, he has made immeasurable contributions to his nation's security and its emergence as a modern, thriving democratic society, time and again taking on tough tasks and getting them done right. Now, as Prime Minister, he has put Middle East peace at the top of his agenda, telling his fellow citizens that Israel's triumph, and I quote, ``will not be complete until true peace, trust, and cooperation reign between Israel and its neighbors.'' Mr. Prime Minister, if your mentor, Yitzhak Rabin, were here today, I believe he would be very gratified, seeing the leadership of his cherished nation in your most capable hands. For more than half a century, the United States has stood proudly with Israel and for the security of its people and its nation. Now, Mr. Prime Minister, as Israel again walks bravely down the path of peace, America will walk with you, ready to help in any way we can. As we have seen before here at this house, as Israelis, Palestinians, Egyptians, and Jordanians have come together, what at first seems unlikely, even impossible, can actually become reality when the will for peace is strong.…”