Following are excerpts from President Carter’s speech:
During the past 30 years, Israel and Egypt have waged war. For the past 16 months, these two great nations have waged peace. Today we celebrate a victory — not of a bloody military campaign but of an inspiring peace campaign….
At the end of this campaign the soil of the two lands is not drenched with young blood. The country-sides of both lands are free from the litter and carnage of a wasteful war. Mothers in Egypt and Israel are not weeping today for their children fallen in senseless battle. The dedication and determination of these two world statesmen (Premier Menachem Begin of Israel and President Anwar Sadat of Egypt) have borne fruit. Peace has come.
I honor these two leaders and their government officials who have hammered out this peace treaty which we sign. But most of all I honor the people of these two lands whose yearning for peace kept alive the negotiations which today culminate in this glorious event. We have won, at least, the first step of peace — a first step on a long and difficult road. We must not minimize the obstacles that lie ahead.
Differences still separate the signatories to this treaty from each other and also from some of their neighbors who fear what they have done. To overcome those differences, to dispel those fears, we must re-dedicate ourselves to the goal of a broader peace with justice for all who have lived in a state of conflict in the Middle East. We have no illusions — we have hopes, dreams, prayers, yet — but no illusions.
There now remains the rest of the Arab world whose support and cooperation in the peace process is needed and honestly sought…. I am convinced that other Arab people need and want peace, but some leaders are not yet willing to honor these needs and desires. We must now demonstrate the advantages of peace, and expand its benefits to encompass all those who have suffered in the Middle East…. Let those who would shatter peace — who would callously spill blood — be aware that we three and all others who may join us will vigorously wage peace….
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