Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon delivered his victory speech at 1 AM this morning at Likud election headquarters at the Tel Aviv Exhibition Grounds. Leaders and members of all of his potential national-camp coalition partners were there to greet him. Excerpts from the speech, which he began by remembering his late wife Lily and expressing his sorrow over her absence:
“Several minutes before I entered the hall, US President Bush called to relay his good wishes. He told me of his desire for close cooperation with the government which I will head. He recalled a tour we went on together of Samaria and the Jordan Valley, and reminded me that he had said then that one day he would be President and I would be Prime Minister. He said, \'No one may have believed it then, but here it is, I am President and you have just been elected Prime Minister.\'
“Today, the State of Israel has embarked on a new path: a path of domestic peace and harmony, and a striving for security and genuine peace… Over the years, differences of opinion and divisions have grown deeper in our nation and in our society. We have had our fill of animosity and senseless hatred. The time has come to focus on that which unites us, and reach a consensus as broad as possible. I know that there is a national yearning to stand together and face the challenges of the future. I issue a call from here for the establishment of a national unity government, with as many members as possible. I turn to the Labor party to walk with us together, on the basis of true partnership, along the difficult path to security and peace.”
“The government that I will lead will work towards restoring security to the citizens of Israel, and towards achieving genuine peace and stability in the region. I know that peace means painful compromises on both sides. Any settlements reached will be based on security for all peoples in the region. I call upon our neighbors the Palestinians to abandon the path of violence and return to dialogue and pursuit of a resolution to the disagreements between us in a peaceful manner. The government which I will lead will work towards a realistic settlement which will safeguard the existential and historical interests of Israel, and will be based on mutual respect and the fulfillment of reciprocal obligations.”
\"We will open a new page in our relations with Israel’s Arab citizens in an effort to create a true partnership, and a sense of equality between all citizens. The government that I will lead will raise the flag of social issues, alongside the flags of security and peace, with the top priority being education. Above these are the flag of Zionism, the flag of national honor, immigration and settlement of the Land. The government which I will establish will pursue the strengthening and building up of a united Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, and the eternal capital of the Jewish people for which we are forever obligated: “If I forget thee O Jerusalem, let my right hand lose its cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy.”
“We have a small country blessed with talent and rich in achievements. Let’s begin tonight all of us ‘as one man with one heart’ on a new path. Together we can overcome all of the challenges before us. Together we can realize all of our hopes and dreams. Thank you all.”
“Several minutes before I entered the hall, US President Bush called to relay his good wishes. He told me of his desire for close cooperation with the government which I will head. He recalled a tour we went on together of Samaria and the Jordan Valley, and reminded me that he had said then that one day he would be President and I would be Prime Minister. He said, \'No one may have believed it then, but here it is, I am President and you have just been elected Prime Minister.\'
“Today, the State of Israel has embarked on a new path: a path of domestic peace and harmony, and a striving for security and genuine peace… Over the years, differences of opinion and divisions have grown deeper in our nation and in our society. We have had our fill of animosity and senseless hatred. The time has come to focus on that which unites us, and reach a consensus as broad as possible. I know that there is a national yearning to stand together and face the challenges of the future. I issue a call from here for the establishment of a national unity government, with as many members as possible. I turn to the Labor party to walk with us together, on the basis of true partnership, along the difficult path to security and peace.”
“The government that I will lead will work towards restoring security to the citizens of Israel, and towards achieving genuine peace and stability in the region. I know that peace means painful compromises on both sides. Any settlements reached will be based on security for all peoples in the region. I call upon our neighbors the Palestinians to abandon the path of violence and return to dialogue and pursuit of a resolution to the disagreements between us in a peaceful manner. The government which I will lead will work towards a realistic settlement which will safeguard the existential and historical interests of Israel, and will be based on mutual respect and the fulfillment of reciprocal obligations.”
\"We will open a new page in our relations with Israel’s Arab citizens in an effort to create a true partnership, and a sense of equality between all citizens. The government that I will lead will raise the flag of social issues, alongside the flags of security and peace, with the top priority being education. Above these are the flag of Zionism, the flag of national honor, immigration and settlement of the Land. The government which I will establish will pursue the strengthening and building up of a united Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, and the eternal capital of the Jewish people for which we are forever obligated: “If I forget thee O Jerusalem, let my right hand lose its cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy.”
“We have a small country blessed with talent and rich in achievements. Let’s begin tonight all of us ‘as one man with one heart’ on a new path. Together we can overcome all of the challenges before us. Together we can realize all of our hopes and dreams. Thank you all.”