14/12/2005 – יום רביעי י”ג כסלו תשס”ו Good Evening, As every year, I am happy to participate in the Green Light Conference. At the first Green Light Conference, when I told you I hoped there would be more conferences, I was still a little skeptical. However, I since got to know the Green Light Association, and was further acquainted with Avi Naor, and I learnt to appreciate the tremendous effort you make to combat road accidents. I would like to thank you for that. I believe that you prove the ability of a group who is deeply troubled by a certain issue, to put that issue on the public agenda and influence what is happening in this country. Last year when I arrived here, I promised you that in the coming year we would bring for Government approval a comprehensive plan to battle road accidents. This plan, known as the Shainin Plan is now a reality, and thanks to you, it has gained comprehensive public awareness when you had 1,200,000 Israelis sign a petition on this subject. As I promised you, we approved the Shainin Plan in the Government and are making preparations to implement it in all relevant Government Offices. I have known Yaacov Shainin for many years, and even if we would not want to do it, he would have forced us. One of the most important sections of implementing this plan was approved last week. In the Israel National Roads Company five-year plan, we allocated NIS 2.6 billion for road safety components. We are thereby correcting a reality which was predominant here for years, of neglecting the safety component. I would like to thank Minister Meir Sheetrit, who was the main force behind this initiative. I believe it is a revolutionary step which, with G-ds help, will help save many lives in Israel in the coming years. The second part of the Shainin Plan implementation, is the approval of the National Authority for Road Safety Law. We will bring this law to approval before the Knesset dissolves. Regrettably, populist and self-serving parties joined forces in order to sabotage the rudiments of the law, the road safety toll. When we approved the plan in the Government, it was evident that it is extremely important to add significant budgets to the battle against road accidents. I am confident that the public will agree to a small increase in the toll for the purpose of saving lives it is priceless. Preventing this toll means preventing the additional budget. In such a reality we will need to consider how to continue with the legislation process. I can only assure you that I will not let go of this issue. I would like to tell you something which applies not only to preventing this important law, but generally to the situation we have been facing in recent weeks a situation where everyone takes the law into their own hands and there is an attempt to sabotage important processes because of petty personal considerations. This probably characterizes an election period. Everyone slanders, tramples and scandalizes instead of lending a hand to the important steps we are taking steps towards security, tranquility, welfare and peace. It is enraging, and it is all the more enraging that there are those who, out of these same personal interests, attempt all sorts of political tricks, in order to prolong that period. There is currently no boundary to incitement and slander. I know we came here to attend to a different topic a topic which is perhaps the most important and urgent one of all. However, I feel like it would be impossible not to say a few words about everything that is presently taking place I think that should also be done. I mentioned that there is currently no boundary to incitement and slander, and I hope you will forgive me for saying a few words about these issues. The height of absurdity happened yesterday, when slogans were heard from every direction claiming that I intend to divide Jerusalem. There was no such a thing. This is nonsense and lies and those who exploit this for political purposes are well aware of that. United Jerusalem will remain the undivided capital of the State of Israel. Others can talk. I, however, intend to continue to act and ensure that it will remain so forever. I apologize if I deviated from the topic of this conference, but there is some nonsense that should be taken off the agenda immediately. One of the important things in your conference (and I would like to say, not only your conference, but also my conference and our conference) is that you do not forget. Every year, before the conference, you call to follow-up on the advancement of the promises which were made in the previous conference. I therefore request that you take note: by the fifth Green Light Conference, the Authority for the Battle Against Road Accidents Law will be fully approved exactly as it was presented by the Government. And, because I intend to come to the fifth Green Light conference as Prime Minister, you will be able to test me for that as well. I thank you again. You have done, and are continuing to do, a great thing, a truly great thing. Saving lives is a great thing, perhaps the most important one of all. Again, I wish you success and also thank you for your irreplaceable work. Thank you.
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