talks going beyond the point where it was time to go to bed and get some sleep, beyond the point where people were willing to give up and up to the point where it was possible to make peace.

As a result of that commitment and the courageous decisions of Prime Minister Netanyahu and Chairman Arafat, there is greater hope today than yesterday that children born tomorrow will know only peace in the Middle East. We know that the road to permanent peace lies out long before us, but today we are several steps closer to that goal.

And, ladies and gentlemen, it is with great pride that I present the individual who has been the person responsible for these forward steps today. On behalf of the American people and the world community, I would like to say thank you, Mr. President.

President Bill Clinton.

PRESIDENT CLINTON: Thank you very much, Mr. Vice President, Madame Secretary, Your Majesty, Prime Minister Netanyahu, Chairman Arafat, to the Israeli and Palestinian delegations, the members of Congress and the Cabinet, members of the diplomatic corps, my fellow Americans who are here. It's a great honor for me to welcome you here. I only wish the first lady were here as well. She is in Chicago. We talked a few moments ago and she sends her great happiness and best wishes, especially to Queen Noor and Mrs. Netanyahu.

After some very difficult negotiations, very long, dare I say quite sleepless, the Israelis and Palestinians here have reached an agreement on issues over which they have been divided for more than 17 months. This agreement is designed to rebuild trust and renew hope for peace between the parties. Now both sides must build on that hope, carry out their commitments, begin the difficult but urgent journey toward a permanent settlement.

Over the last nine days, I have witnessed extraordinary efforts on behalf of peace. I thank our team, beginning with its head, the secretary of State, who showed remarkable creativity, strength and patience. I thank the vice president for his interventions. I thank my good friend Sandy Berger; our Director of Central Intelligence, George Tenet, who had an unusual, almost unprecedented role to play because of the security considerations; our special Middle East coordinator, Dennis Ross, who was a young man with no gray hair when all this began.

I thank all the other outstanding members of our delegation.

I thank Prime Minister Netanyahu, who stood so firmly for the security of his citizens and of his country, and of the impressive members of his cabinet and administration.

I thank Chairman Arafat, who tenaciously defended the interests of his people, and the very impressive members of his team as well.

In the end, after all the twists and turns and ups and downs, all their late and ultimately sleepless nights, both reaffirmed their commitment to the path of peace. And for that, the world can be grateful.

And finally, let me thank His Majesty, King Hussein, whose courage, commitment, wisdom, and, frankly, stern instruction at appropriate times were at the heart of this success. Your Majesty, we are all profoundly in your debt.

<3>