Peace Must Be Based on Realism, Not on Romance
By Rudy Giuliani

Rudy Giuliani addressing the National Solidarity Rally for Israel in Washington, DC. (Ron Sachs photo)

We're here -- we're all here today for the same purpose -- to support America, to support Israel and to support all those who join us in understanding that we have to end terrorism, we have to end the threat of terrorism, and we have to make it clear that we're going to stand together to accomplish that purpose.

I commend our great president, President Bush, and our government for the determined, the patient, the courageous and the very focused effort to accomplish that goal over the last seven months. It has truly been inspirational.

Israel is vitally important to America and to all Americans and to all who agree, and like us, are dedicated to political freedom, economic freedom, religious freedom, the rule of law and respect for human rights and human life.

Those five principles define us as Americans. Together they constitute our beliefs, our philosophy and our principles. And those five principles bind us inextricably with the state of Israel.

Israel is an oasis of freedom in a desert of authoritarianism and worse. It is an outpost of democracy where democracy is unique. And in all ways, it's America's good friend.

When American lives were at risk in the Gulf War, it was Israel that stood with America -- (applause) -- while others turned their backs. When America was attacked on September 11th in New York, here in Washington, and in Pennsylvania, attacked for our beliefs, the beliefs we share with Israel, Israel stood with us shoulder to shoulder while some others refused to condemn or even tried to shift the blame and celebrate. We remember that.

To my good friends Prime Minister Sharon and to Prime Minister -- (applause) -- and to Prime Minister Netanyahu, who you will hear from very soon -- (applause) -- to Natan Sharansky and to my very good friend, Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem -- (applause) -- I say today that I think of you and I feel for you, for all parties in Israel.

I remember the attack on my city and I remember your being with me to help and assist and I remember being with you and Governor Pataki and Mayor Bloomberg in Jerusalem just a short while ago while we stood with you as you stood with us to make the same point -- we're not afraid. We're not going to cower. We are not going to back down. We are going to stand up for who we are and what we are.

Let us remember, yes, how important it is that Jerusalem remain the undivided capital of the state of Israel.

But let us also remember, as these signs demonstrate to those of us of other religions, Jerusalem is important to us, and our sites, our important institutions, our churches and mosques, have never been treated as fairly as they have since Israel has been -- (applause) -- guiding the fate of Jerusalem. So for all of us, it is important that it stay that way.

All of us yearn for peace, but peace must be based on realism, not romance.

Peace must be based on security, not terrorism.

The desire for peace must not overwhelm our common sense. Otherwise we will fail to achieve peace.

Let's be clear. There is no moral equivalent between the state of Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

Israel and the Palestinian Authority are different. There is a difference between a nation based on law and democracy and one that harbors terrorism.

For the good of America and for the good of Israel, the path to peace must be based on three principles that we must re-emphasize. The Palestinian Authority must live up to its agreements, agreements that it made in exchange for territory, its agreements to assist in eliminating terrorists and terrorism. They must do that for the good of Israel, for the good of the Palestinian Authority, for the good of America and for the good of all of us who understand the terrible risks we take in allowing people to support terrorism.

The Palestinian Authority also must demonstrate, over a period of time, a real effort, which it has not, to establish institutions of political and economic freedom and religious toleration for all religions. And we must, thirdly, re-analyze the territorial arrangement in order to provide one that makes more sense in leading toward a lasting peace.

All of us, as all you good people who have come here, all of us wish for peace. We pray for it. All of us today, despite the horrible, horrible events that we've been through in America and people have been through in Israel, we are optimistic.

We are hopeful, because we know, not in any belligerent sense, but we know that we're right and they're wrong.

We're right about political and economic freedom, about religious toleration, about the rule of law and respect for human rights and human life.

So thank you for coming. Thank you for demonstrating your abiding commitment to those principles. God bless Israel, God bless America, and lead us to peace.

Thank you.

Rudy Giuliani is the former Mayor of New York City. He gave this address at the National Solidarity Rally With Israel in Washington, DC on April 15, 2002