Date: Fri, 16 Jul 2004 15:26:08 +0200 Graduates of the 31st Class and their Families, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is my pleasure to congratulate you upon the completion of your training at the National Security College. I met with you several days ago, as it is my custom to meet with the graduates of the College every year, and allow me to say that I was very impressed. I trust and have confidence in your abilities as the future top echelon of the public and security systems, and in your ability to continue to lead them successfully. When each of you returns to your respective system, you must remember that one of the greatest threats to every system is the inability to concentrate its efforts in promoting its central goals.
One of the central components in building national strength is the ability to determine priorities. There is a tendency to think that determining priorities is distinguishing between what is important and what is not, but it is not so. We face, and will always face, many important tasks. The wisdom is to distinguish between the important and the very important. The consequence of this distinction is not just to invest more in the very important, but also, necessarily, to invest less in the important. Similarly, there is a tendency to confuse the important with the urgent, especially in a country like ours, which endures constant internal and external pressures. Many times, due to urgent matters, we neglect the important. One reason for this is the accelerated turnover in governments in the country. I can attest that, in order to determine priorities, the captain must have an adjustment period. This is true for an army commander, as well as for the leadership of a nation. I did not come here to tell you about my long-term service, because I already discussed it at length in the government. Therefore, this is no need to add anything. I am pleased that today we are undergoing a period of relative political stability, which indeed allows the Government to reassess the situation, set priorities, and act to ensure that our limited resources are invested in the most important national goals in all fields. In the economic sphere, the State of Israel is recovering from a serious recession, and is on the verge of growth. It has become possible solely due to a series of difficult decisions. It is possible that in the number of places and in a number of areas, given that we are speaking of people from the weakest strata and people who cannot work, then we went too far. I already instructed the Government and Minister of Finance to examine the possibility of making slight corrections. I say slight so as not to change the economic policy, which is correct, but to give the diversion of feeling on these matters. It is important to understand that a country which has a per capita GDP of less than 30% of the average of OECD countries, cannot afford services at the level of OECD countries in all fields: advanced education and a developed health system and a strong army and a well-staffed civil service and an expanded welfare system. Therefore, we had to determine a list of priorities which favors the very important over the important. We made painful cuts in Government spending in order to achieve growth, and we recently determined the topics we intend to concentrate on in the budgetary year 2005. If we had not done so, not only would we be in a deep economic crisis, but the crisis would have deepened and then we would have been forced to make even greater cuts, simply because there is no money. In addition, we have fully assessed the political and security situations, determined our priorities and decided to invest the majority of our efforts in the most important areas. When we found out that we currently have no Palestinian partner who is willing to and capable of achieving peace, we had to take independent steps. The Disengagement Plan is an expression of our priorities in the political and security spheres. We determined the lines we would not cross and anchored them in agreements with our strategic ally, the United States: it is our right to defend ourselves against every threat, strengthen our settlement blocks, prevent a return to the 67 borders and prevent the flooding of the State of Israel with Palestinian refugees. Among the other considerations under which we operate, we must not ignore the demographics. It is impossible to maintain a Jewish and democratic country here, over the years, while ruling over millions of Palestinians in Judea, Samaria and Gaza. In each of these fields, in addition to the decision which goals to invest in, there necessarily exists the decision which important goals not to invest in. Whoever thinks that it is possible to maintain a bloated public system while achieving economic growth will find that there is a non-functional public system and no growth. Whoever thinks that it is possible to continue supporting both Netzarim and Maale Adumim will find themselves with neither Netzarim nor Maale Adumim, and that is not my intention. Whoever thinks that it is possible today to settle in all parts of the Land of Israel while at the same time maintaining a Jewish and democratic state, may find themselves without any settlements, without a democracy and without a Jewish State. We will not be able to achieve all our national goals without unity in our ranks. I say these things knowing they are not easy things, they are difficult. However, if we wish to expand our national goals, we must achieve them with unity in our ranks. I do not wish to discuss politics here, but hatred and mutual rejection will lead us nowhere. There cannot be a situation where this one does not want to talk with this one, and this one hates that one, and he is not returning affection in the same measure, and at this moment I am just making the effort. And I also believe that I will succeed. I have not way of seating them next to each other, this must come first, and I believe this too will happen. On this subject too, we must all compromise, even on things which are important to us, in order to reach the more important goals. I believe that implementing the Disengagement Plan is vital to the future of the State of Israel, and its security. Therefore, I intend to adhere to the Disengagement Plan and actualize it in 2005, despite the difficulties. You certainly understand that the role of a leader is not to warm a seat and ensure his daily survival. I am certain that you, who are returning to work in the critical centers of activity, are aware of your duty as leaders to act determinedly and fearlessly, and be prepared for the future. I wish you success in all your respective tasks. I came to hear, and the Chief of Staff whispered details about each of you to me, and I also saw you a few days ago. Knowing your experience and your roles, I would like to congratulate the Chief of Staff and the Minister of Defense on their knowing where they are headed, and I see this as a very important thing. I speak now of people in the Defense Forces – civilian life I have yet to learn. I again wish you success in your respective tasks. I hope and pray that together we will be able to lead Israel to a future of security and peace, of tranquility and prosperity. Thank you.
