Talks to resume next week. Obstacles remain
Palestine, Politics, 9/30/1997

Talks are expected to resume between the Palestine National Authority and Israel next week with the participation of US Special Envoy to the Middle East, Dennis Ross amid feelings of discontent on the part of both US officials and Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy that the announcement of the resumption of talks was released by the prime minister of Israel long before Levy and US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright met with PLO Executive Committee member Mahmoud Abbas in Washington. Breaking the six-month freeze on talks that was caused by Israel's decision last March to build the new settlement of Har Homa on Jabal Abu Ghaneim in East Jerusalem, the sides agreed to take a "time out" from unilateral actions, although the definition of that phrase hasn¹t been decided yet.

But Chief Palestinian negotiator Dr. Saeb Erekat said the Palestinians had demanded that Israel implement the outstanding clauses of the interim agreements before the two sides can sit down and start talks on the final status of the Palestinian territories. Erekat said the Palestinians will request that the subjects of land confiscation and the continuation of settlements be discussed in Washington. He confirmed that from a Palestinian point of view, those issues are the main ones that need to be addressed. Officials in the PNA expressed contentment about the announced resumption of the talks, but said they are still waiting for steps to be taken by Israel, which will prove it intends to carry out the agreement.

Earlier, Levy delivered a speech to the UN assembly. He sharply attacked the Palestinian National Authority, the international community and the UN, accusing them of what he called: ³their part in the delaying of the peace process.² Levy said: ³Peace cannot dwell under the same roof with incitement, violence and terror. The Palestinian Authority committed itself to a war against terror, but to our regret it has been proven that this obligation has not been maintained as it should have been.²

The final-status talks, David Levy said, are supposed to last up to nine months. The beginning of the talks will be decided by the Palestinians and Israel, and Levy said he felt he had reason to believe that the Palestinians were ready to agree to delay the Israeli troop redeployment in the West Bank.

Senior sources in Israel were quoted as saying on Tuesday that the agreement between Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) and Levy had two parts. Next week, the talks will concentrate on the Israeli army redeployment in the West Bank. At a later stage, on October 13, the two sides will hold a meeting in Washington to discuss a process for the final-status talks.

Abu Mazen said the " time out" meant that Israel should stop all settlement construction works and land confiscation while talks are being conducted. He also said that house demolition by Israel should be brought to a halt and collective punishment measures be ceased while talks are in process.

The talks will be resumed within the framework of the committees, which deal with the issues of opening of the Gaza harbor, the Gaza International Airport and the safe passage between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. US special peace envoy Dennis Ross will arrive in the region in a few days days to help with the resumption of the talks.

The second stage of negotiations will begin in another two weeks on Oct. 13, when Palestinian and Israeli delegates will meet with the Americans to discuss four points the sides didn¹t agree on during contacts held in recent days. The four points, according to diplomatic sources, are the PNA fight against what the US and Israel term as terror groups, security cooperation between the PNA and Israel, phases and dates of the further redeployment of Israeli troops in the West Bank and the definition of the "time out" period during which neither side will take unilateral steps; and the acceleration of talks about the permanent status of the Palestinian territories.

When asked if the freeze includes the cessation of building in settlements, Albright answered in her press conference Monday night that this is "not what this says. We will discuss the contents of the time out, but it is no secret part of the construction activity is viewed by the Palestinians as damage done to the general atmosphere, and I think everyone knows my own position, that everything must be done to protect a suitable atmosphere.²

Upon his return to Israel Monday evening, Foreign Minister David Levy claimed that there is a basis for an agreement to defer the carrying out of the phase withdrawals until a final arrangement is attained. Levy said the Israeli proposal on this subject was not rejected by the Palestinians and it will be one of the subjects discussed in Washington in another two weeks. Levy added the talks in Washington will also address the Israeli proposal to engage accelerated final-status talks in a six- or nine-month period, during which time the freeze on one-sided actions would remain in effect. ³We have not determined what the time out includes,² Levy declared. ³It should be agreed upon between the sides. We will decide what it includes. Meantime, there is no agreement about this.²

US and PNA officials and even Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy had all expressed dissatisfaction with Netanyahu's announcement. Dennis Ross reportedly told Levy this announcement ³didn¹t contribute anything.² Prior to this, the Palestinians said they didn¹t understand Netanyahu¹s statement: ³Nothing has been agreed upon definitely, and the issue of the settlements remains the essential one, upon which the whole matter will rise or fall,² said Dr. Erekat.

Foreign Minister David Levy was angry about Netanyahu¹s statement, thinking it a foolish move which was liable to damage the contacts being engaged between the Palestinians and Israel. ³There is a reality and there are hopes. We have more work to do,² Levy said. Netanyahu claimed in response that his declaration was relayed only after the matter was disclosed by the Palestinians.

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