#1 Address by PM Olmert- Inauguration of the New Elnajah High School, Rahat
www.pmo.gov.il/PMOEng/Communication/PMSpeaks/speechraht261106.htm

"The intention was to achieve full cessation of all forms of violent
activity, including the smuggling of weapons through tunnels, the
dispatching of suicide terrorists, and, of course, the firing of Qassam
rockets"

...
I am very pleased to come to Rahat on the morning of a day which may
symbolize a new beginning, not only for the residents of Rahat, but perhaps
on a larger and more significant scale. Last night I received a call from
the Chairman of the Palestinian Authority. While we maintain continuous
contact, I was expecting this particular call - and he knew that I was
expecting it - to let me know of a decision by all Palestinian organizations
to reach a cease-fire, which was supposed to come into effect at six o'clock
this morning. The intention was to achieve full cessation of all forms of
violent activity, including the smuggling of weapons through tunnels, the
dispatching of suicide terrorists, and, of course, the firing of Qassam
rockets. I was very pleased to receive this notification, and congratulated
the PA Chairman. We both agreed that the two parties would act to make
certain that this cease-fire would in fact find practical expression from
this morning at six.

I took into account the fact that a cease-fire is not something which is
fully implemented immediately, without any violations. I nevertheless asked
the Minister of Defense to instruct the IDF to withdraw. And indeed, this
morning the IDF forces pulled out of the Gaza Strip. While there are still
Palestinian violations of the cease-fire, I have instructed our security
forces to refrain from responding, to show restraint and give this
cease-fire a chance to go into full, practical and comprehensive effect, in
accordance with the commitment made yesterday by PA Chairman Abu-Mazen. This
morning, the Hamas organization already announced that it had no dialogue
with us and that this morning's shooting was a violation of the Palestinian
obligation. However, contrary to the situation which existed in the past,
they admitted that there was in fact an obligation and a need to uphold this
obligation. I am in contact with the Palestinian Authority to make sure that
this obligation is fulfilled, and we will show patience and restraint in
order to give it a chance.

The State of Israel is very strong. It has enough power to fight terrorism
and enough power to show restraint and give the cease-fire a chance to be
fully implemented, in accordance with Abu-Mazen's commitment to me. We will
show the necessary patience and restraint in the next few days. Needless to
say, the cease-fire, or the cessation of initiated activity, does not
provide a response to all outstanding issues between us and the Palestinian
Authority. We expect the immediate release of Gilad Shalit.

His release was not part of the internal arrangement between the Palestinian
organizations which resulted in the cease-fire, but I believe that this
understanding regarding a cease-fire could contribute to the speedy release
of Gilad Shalit. In recent days and nights, we have been working tirelessly
to bring about his release, and I hope that the PA will uphold the condition
set forth by Abu-Mazen to the other organizations and ensure his speedy
release. We very much hope that the cease-fire, if it comes into effect,
would be expanded to Judea and Samaria as well. Abu-Mazen advised me that
the organizations were beginning discussions today regarding the expansion
of the cease-fire to Judea and Samaria as well. At the moment, it still does
not apply there and I hope that they will show responsibility and good will
on this issue as well. All these things would ultimately lead to one thing:
the commencement of serious, genuine, open and direct negotiations between
us and the PA, between Abu-Mazen and myself, in order for us to be able to
proceed towards a comprehensive agreement between us and the Palestinians.
In recent weeks, my bureau and that of Abu-Mazen maintain continuous
contact. There is dialogue, there are understandings, but all these need to
create the conditions for the opening of negotiations and I truly hope that
it will happen soon. I see a great opportunity in this responsibility which
the Chairman of the Palestinian Authority took upon himself - and
particularly the full and unequivocal implementation of this commitment -
and I promise you that the Government of Israel and the State of Israel will
not miss this opportunity, but rather contribute to and strengthen this
opportunity, in order to be able to move forward.
...
________________________________________

Address by PM Olmert- Ceremony for the Inauguration of the New Building of
the Air Force Technological College, Beer-Sheva

www.pmo.gov.il/PMOEng/Communication/PMSpeaks/speechair261106.htm

" stop all shooting, smuggling of weapons through tunnels and firing of
Qassam rockets"
...

Finally, some short remarks regarding issues on the agenda. You heard the
strong statements made by our Minister of Defense. Gentlemen, I have no
doubt that a decision by all Palestinian organizations to stop the fire in
the south is a very significant one. For many weeks we have tried, very
carefully and in coordination with the Palestinian authorities, to assist in
the creation of a process which could lead to this decision, and I am
pleased at the announcement made by the Chairman of the Palestinian
Authority, who said to me, unequivocally, that it was a full obligation by
all Palestinian organizations.

I answered Abu-Mazen, after I consulted with the Ministers and members of
the Security Cabinet, that an agreement to stop fighting and stop shooting
is Gaza was not the end of the story, and that we would continue to fight
for the immediate release of Gilad Shalit. We will fight for the cessation
of terrorism also in Judea and Samaria, but if they are willing to stop all
shooting, smuggling of weapons through tunnels and firing of Qassam rockets,
we will view this as a vital step and I believe that it could be part of
some continuous process which will soon lead to negotiations between us and
the Palestinian Authority.

This was the understanding between the Chairman of the Palestinian Authority
and myself as part of a quiet process of dialogue which we have maintained
for a few weeks. I will tell you a secret. When I advised my fellow
ministers last night of this proposal, we knew that there was a chance that
this cease-fire would not be immediately implemented exactly in accordance
with the commitment. Experience, particularly in this part of the world, has
taught us that not everything finds immediate expression in a comprehensive,
complete and orderly manner.

The State of Israel is an extremely powerful State and is capable of
fighting any terrorist organization - and all of them put together - when
the need arises and when they fight us. It is so powerful that it can also
afford to show restraint in order to give the cease-fire a serious chance.
The cease-fire is not the ultimate goal, but merely a phase in a process
which we hope would create the dynamic which will lead to negotiations and
dialogue and maybe, ultimately, also an agreement between us and the
Palestinians.

This is the ultimate commitment of this Government. It is what motivates and
sustains it and it is what gives us the strength to go forward. It is
therefore my hope that the combination of these circumstances - the
Ben-Gurion anniversary, this addition to the build-up of power of Israel's
technological education system, and the beginning, maybe, of a sustainable
cease-fire - are all signs of hope that while there may be some difficult
days ahead, there are also days which offer a real chance.

Thank you very much.