 Thank you very much. Thank you very much, and I'm sure others have made you already feel welcome here. I'd like to acknowledge the chairman of the Republican Jewish Coalition, Richard Fox, and also the co-chairman, Gordon Zaks, George Klein, and your honorary chairman, Max Fischer, who's in Israel. And I want to thank all of you in the Republican Jewish Coalition for what you're doing. Today, as we meet, Americans are still stunned by the savagery in Beirut. I can't express the personal grief and loss that I feel as the Commander-in-Chief of these Marines, but I know that as fellow Americans, you have those same feelings, and you share that loss also. I believe Americans understand, as never before, the dangers facing Israel. I'm talking about terrorism. The terrorism that killed our Marines there, the terrorism that killed the Israeli athletes at the Olympic Games, the terrorism that Israel so often experiences. I believe our grief has joined us with Israel as never before. You hear some people asking, what are we doing in the Midees? Why are we there? Well, we're searching for peace, and it's a noble and a painful labor. The loss of our Marines, though senseless, is not in vain. If we can contribute to the peace process, we will have done more to advance the security and well-being of Israel than anything else that we undertake. Right now, amidst the mourning and the pain, we're seeking the territorial integrity, the sovereignty, and the political independence of Lebanon. The U.S., France, Italy, and the United Kingdom have contributed troops to a multinational force in Lebanon to give that mutilated country a chance to pull itself together while our diplomats search for internal agreement. A secure Lebanon means a secure Israel in furtherance of our own interests. Progress is being delayed by Syria's foot-dragging and by the animalism that occurred last Sunday. The introduction into Syria of the most sophisticated conventional weapons in the Soviet arsenal, backed by Soviet support troops, has created a new threat to Israel and to our own presence in the Eastern Mediterranean. Let me assure you, we will not stand idle if Israel's security is endangered. We assisted in implementing the Israel-Egypt peace treaty, and we succeeded in negotiating the May 17th Israel-Lebanon Agreement. And I intend to stand by that agreement, no matter what Syria does, and we will not be intimidated and driven out by acts of terrorism. In September 1982, I proposed a plan which is the only realistic one to solve the Palestinian problem. In so many ways, we're searching to find that peace and security Israel in the United States so desperately desired. We also will not let Israel be hurt in the United Nations. Ambassador Kirkpatrick is our watchdog on this, and she is tenacious. But just so the UN doesn't get any ideas, let me be very blunt. If Israel is ever forced to leave, we leave together. One reason that we admire Israel so much is its commitment to democracy. These principles are absolutely essential in today's troubled world. We're trying to promote programs that encourage the development and understanding of democracy around the world. And I'm told that some of you who are in the audience are considering helping from the private sector. And I can't tell you how helpful that would be. Because look at the alternative to democratic nations. Moscow has just sentenced Subbagan to seven years' imprisonment and five years of internal exile. The Soviet regime has refused for 13 years to honor Mr. Begin's request to emigrate to Israel. This courageous man cannot silence his conscience, and yet the Soviets will not let him leave. I can't understand a system that keeps people in only so they can punish them. I believe it's our duty to speak out for those people who are persecuted because of their beliefs. I condemn the proceedings against Mr. Begin, and I call upon Soviet authorities to grant him the permission to emigrate to Israel as he has so long sought. When the days are darkest for those of the Hebrew faith in the Soviet labor camps or exiled in Siberia, they must think of Israel and feel a little peace within themselves. In their coal cells, they must be warmed by the light of Israel so many thousands of miles away. Israel represents hope and home, and I want those Jews who suffer in the Soviet Union, as well as you here today, to know that the United States believes in Israel's light. We believe in her hope and her future, and we will let no one endanger her promise. Now, I know I only have a few minutes and somebody is going to be tugging at my elbow in those few minutes, but would someone like to ask a question? For 35 years, Israel has demonstrated that she is a faithful and loyal ally to our country. She shares, as you said, our democratic values, she shares our goal of containing Soviet expansion in the area, and she shares our hope for peace in the Middle East and has made substantial concessions, both in territorial resources, to further that goal. And yet, Mr. President, there seems to be a annoying perception in the Jewish community that we are not using the resources of our ally. We're not using her bases, we're not using her facilities, and most recently a question as there is an abusing medical facilities that were offered, and that there is a lack of the quality of interaction that should characterize the relationship between two allies. Mr. President, as you look to the year ahead, how do you plan to strengthen the American-Israeli alliance and use the relationship and resources of this alliance to further our national goals? Well, I think the perception is wrong with regard to there being any drifting apart or not utilizing some of that. And some of the actions right now are because of the interplay of, and I think the government of Israel is aware of this, of our diplomatic efforts. We know about the Marines in Lebanon, but not so many people are aware that virtually around the clock, day in and day out, these diplomatic efforts have been going on in an effort to resolve the problems connected particularly with establishing the government of Lebanon. We worked, as you know, hand in glove in getting the Lebanon-Israel agreement. So they're aware that in some instances where we're dealing with the Arab states, particularly Syria, it would be counterproductive to give them, because they never fail to use as an argument against us, that, well, they think that we're speaking on behalf of Israel and that we're not totally neutral and seeking peace from both sides at an angle. So that is true. You mentioned the hospital at Haifa. This concerned me when the offer came and we're most appreciative and grateful for it. And I looked to see what it was, and it was just that in the press of time and with the time that offer arrived, the arrangements had been made principally because of the burn wounds. And we believed that the hospital that the military did, that they were acquainted with, had the facilities better for the treatment of these extreme burn wounds. And that was the only thing. We're most grateful for the other, and I think you will see in the not too distant future, I think you'll be seeing some of our ships in the Mediterranean making their port calls at Haifa when we think that the men need to get rid of their sea legs and get on land again. Mr. President, the connection with the arrangement and the Lebanese-Israel peace agreement, which ensures certainly that Israel will withdraw and that Syria will withdraw. To follow up Jack Stein's question again, and I do hope and I urge you possibly to clarify this, there again is a perception in the Jewish community that the final outcome will be that Israel will be pressed to withdraw and with a concession, look, let's leave Syria there. She has a right to be a part of the country. You withdraw and we'll try to work something out. Is there any substance to that impression? If there is, no one's had the nerve to tell me. We're well aware of what Syria's motives are, and I'll be just a second, of what their motives are. And they think that large part of Lebanon and Jordan even are part of a greater Syria. And we also know that the support that is behind them at the Soviet Union, as a matter of fact, I have every reason to believe. My personal belief and I think that the evidence I have is sufficient that this last horrendous act involved Iranian terrorists and they were facilitated in their entry and in the provision of the munitions by Syria. Mr. President, when do you plan to move our U.S. embassy to Jerusalem? The very peace plan coming along predicated on the Camp David Accords and the resolutions 4-2-4-2 and 3-3-8 that prompted us more than a year ago to propose a general peace plan which has been held in abeyance by this trouble in Lebanon, which we don't think the plan is dead. We still intend to go there and to go through with that other. We think that to this again would be counterproductive with the negotiations that must take place between the Arab states and between Israel, as they did between Egypt and Israel, if we're to bring about that kind of a peace where other Arab states do as Egypt did and sign peace, that that would properly belong there in the negotiations that would take place. And again, we would be seen as trying to go ahead of the negotiations if we did something of that kind. First of all, let me state for all of us here that we share with you the country's grief over the tragic loss of life of the U.S. Marine. And I know I speak for everyone. We're very concerned that you, in talking to the nation, single out, as you've done for us, where you believe the fault lies, because we're very sensitive to many who wrongly conclude that this loss is attributable to Israel. And we would hope that in signaling those that are the Syrian, Russian, and Iranian influence that you remain firm in your resolve to stay to your peace initiatives in the midst of this. We're behind you. We need your support. But we do hope that you share with us the concern that the nation doesn't fully appreciate who's behind the trouble and the constructive cooperative role that Israel is playing by participating in your agreements of May 17. Well, no, I'm not quite sure. I understand that. The question is, singling out, can you clarify for the nation what you've clarified for us that Israel is cooperating with the administration and the troubles are coming from those that are Syrian, Russian influence who are obstructionists and withholding cooperation? Yes. And I have to tell you, I've said things similar to what I just said a number of times before, and I've said them in this room to groups. And in many instances, the press has actually been covering that. But I found that the press is very selective as to what they print that I say. Yes, Dick. Mr. President, I want to thank you for having us here and for having us participate with you today. We have supporters from 20 states who supported you in 1980 and are here to say that when and if you decide to run, we are here to support you in 84. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you all very much.