PM Sharon: "It is Our Duty to Assist the American People."
(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)
Sunday, 04 September, 2005

Following are Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's remarks at the start of the
weekly Cabinet meeting today (Sunday), 4.9.05:

"At the start of the meeting, I would like to send our condolences to the
American people and to people in the southern US who were struck by such a
severe disaster. It seems to me that the US has been caught up in one of
its worst disasters ever. Last week I sent a letter to US President George
Bush (http://tinyurl.com/cz6ac) in which I expressed my condolences and
those of the Israeli people over the disaster. I want to thank Defense
Minister Shaul Mofaz and Health Minister Danny Naveh whom we turned to in
order to verify what aid for the US victims could be readied within a short
time. Within a few hours I received answers and thus I was able to pass on
the estimates regarding the assistance that Israel could render. A Defense
Ministry and Health Ministry aid delegation will leave this week in order to
coordinate what may be done there.

I want to point out that the US has stood by us during difficult times and
it is our duty to assist it in the areas in which we can help. I want to
reiterate my condolences and my sharing in the grief there. We will do
everything in our power to render assistance in the difficult situation in
which so many US citizens find themselves.

Today, Defense Minister Mofaz, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, Education,
Culture and Sports Minister Limor Livnat, Public Security Minister Gideon
Ezra and Prime Minister's Office Director-General Ilan Cohen on the
situation regarding dealing with the evacuees."