Remarks on the Middle East and Freedom Agenda by National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley.

WASHINGTON -- Johns Hopkins University

Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies

As Prepared for Delivery

As you know, an international conference on the Middle East was held in Annapolis yesterday. At that meeting, Israelis and Palestinians - with the support of their Arab neighbors and the international community - launched negotiations for the establishment of a Palestinian state and for a broader peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Success in these negotiations will contribute to the ultimate goal of a comprehensive peace between Israelis and Arabs.

In light of this development, I thought it would be timely to address four questions this evening:

First, why do we believe that there is an opportunity to achieve a Middle East peace at this particular time?

Second, why is it important to seize this opportunity?

Third, how did we get to this moment of opportunity?

And finally, how is Annapolis linked to President Bush's broader agenda of promoting freedom in the Middle East and beyond?

I. WHY DO WE BELIEVE THAT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACHIEVE A MIDDLE EAST PEACE AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME?

There are three reasons why we believe there is an opportunity to achieve a Middle East peace at this time.

First, there has been a dramatic change in the Israeli assessment of their strategic position and long-term interests.

Key segments of the Israeli public have given up the aspiration for a "Greater Israel" - and no longer wish to retain control over the West Bank and populate it with Israeli settlers. They have recognized that this approach - combined with current demographic trends - would threaten the Jewish character of the State of Israel.

A much larger portion of the Israeli public - who once opposed the establishment of a Palestinian state - have begun to embrace the idea. They have come to understand that the establishment of a free and democratic Palestinian state as a homeland for the Palestinian people can advance international recognition and acceptance of a free and democratic Israel as a homeland for the Jewish people.

And a growing number of Israelis understand that a Palestinian state supported by its people and with the will and capability to maintain peace within its borders will advance Israel's own security against terrorist attacks.