Statement on Israeli-Jordanian-Palestinian Talks - 31-Oct-91

October 31, 1991

At the conclusion of the formal-ceremonial part of the Madrid Peace Conference, bilateral talks took place between Israel and the Jordanian/Palestinian delegation, Israel and Syria, and Israel and Lebanon. At the end of the talks between Israel and the Jordanian/ Palestinian delegation, following comments were made publicly by the heads of the delegations:

Abd el-Salam al-Majali of Jordan: The joint Jordanian-Palestinian delegation and the Israeli delegation met today to start direct negotiations on the basis of [UN] Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338. These negotiations will be conducted along two tracks: a Palestinian-Israeli track and a Jordanian-Israeli track. The talks were held in a good, business-like atmosphere. Matters discussed involved procedural issues at the talks to be held in the future, which it is hoped will take place soon. The parties expressed their views on the possible venue of the negotiations. Consultations will continue in this regard as well as on other matters pertaining to the negotiations.l

Elyakim Rubinstein of Israel: I would like just to add that we basically agree with the statement. We would only like to point out that the negotiations on the matters pertaining to the Palestinians will be conducted first, in the first phase, on an interim self-government arrangement as you already know, and I would like to thank my friends here.

Haidar Abd el-Shafi of the Palestinians: I would like to say here that