A number of motions for the agenda regarding the possibility of the PLO participation in negotiations with Israel were submitted in the Knesset. Israel-PLO negotiations were proposed by the "Progressive List" Opposition to any PLO involvement in the peace process was proposed by MK Linn. Mr. Peres replied that the idea was never under any consideration and explained what happened to Jordan and Lebanon, two countries that did negotiate with the PLO Text:
I think that the proposal submitted by MK Amnon Linn, to oppose PLO involvement in the negotiations, comes either too soon or too late, since I don't think that the PLO desires negotiations at all. In my opinion, the PLO wants to destroy negotiations, and this has been its policy all along. I don't sense any change whatsoever in this organization which would require a renewed discussion. At any rate, I do not object to the matter being discussed in detail by the Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee.
I would like to tell MK Matti Peled, with whom I have the major argument, that I heard [Italian Premier] Craxi say that the root of terrorism is the Palestinian problem. In fact, I can reply by saying that the root of the Palestinian problem is terrorism. In my opinion, no one has done more harm to the Palestinian issue than the PLO, its predecessors, those who paved the way for it, those who follow it, and those who are its leaders until today, since 1947, when the U.N. decided upon the establishment of a Palestinian state and the Palestinian leaders preferred war to a state: From 1949 to 1967, when the PLO could have established a federation or a confederation with Jordan; to Black September, in 1970, when they wanted to overthrow King Hussein; and to the mid-1970's, when the PLO tried to consolidate itself in Lebanon, destroyed Lebanon, and in the end was expelled from there. And I say that until this very day, the PLO -is the biggest obstacle to the solution of the Palestinian problem. In my view, the PLO is more of a Palestinian problem than an Israeli one. The PLO lies at the root of the existence of the Palestinian problem.
Let's say, we are bad children, we don't want to negotiate with the PLO, we are stubborn, and we don't understand either history, geography or philosophy, while others do understand. Moreover, some people did try to hold negotiations with the PLO, and let us see what happened. The last who tried to negotiate with the PLO was King Hussein. he doesn't need our approval, he doesn't even need the approval of the "Progressive List". He launched negotiations with the PLO on his own accord. Where are these negotiations? Is he waiting for letters? Is he waiting for answers or for telephone calls?
King Hussein asked him (Arafat, ed.) three questions, held a conference with him, invited him to his country and gave him red-carpet treatment. He told him: Let's hold a joint conference, let's go to an international conference. Where are the answers?
Arafat must reply in Amman, why doesn't he reply there: Why is he stalling the entire peace process? Why do you come all the time and tell us fairy tales? The PLO wasn't the only one, Hussein wasn't the only one. Mrs. Thatcher was in Jordan, reached agreement with the Jordanians and with the PLO that three or four very distinguished representatives would go to London; what they would say in London was also agreed on. When they came to London, what did they say? What was agreed upon with them?
But prior to that there was an agreement between Lebanon and the PLO. It seems to me that it was called the "May 1970" agreement. Well, did they honor it? Lebanon agreed to host the PLO, they arrived at an agreement with them on the condition that the PLO not carry out terrorist acts from its borders such as would endanger [Lebanon].
Tell me, who succeeded in holding negotiations with the PLO? Even the most extreme person in the Arab world, Syrian President Assad, is now setting Arafat's ouster as a condition. Why does he set such a condition?
The Palestinian people has as many rights as you want, except the right to kill other people. That right will not be accorded it. I want to say that despite the PLO's repeated pledges to halt terrorism, it has again begun firing Katyushas from Lebanon. As if Lebanon doesn't have enough problems, the PLO has come again. For your knowledge, MK Matti Peled, some of the Katyushas fired recently on Galilee settlements were fired by the PLO. We know. that PLO heads have, now and in the past, given orders to kill every person, burn every field, cut down every tree indiscriminately.
Do you know what happened in Algeria? You are citing examples? We are being very careful not to harm any free person. Why do you insist on citing colonial and imperialist examples such as these? Here there is only one situation: An organization which fires indiscriminately at women, children, and old people, and a country which is being careful to attack only murderers and no one else.
I don't understand how you got this whole business wrong. Therefore I repeat: The root of the Palestinian problem is the combination of extremism, fanaticism, violence, division, and inability to make a decision. This was so, it remains so, and all the cosmetic words being scattered here won't help.
You are asking with whom we will negotiate? We shall really be able to hold negotiations only with those Palestinians who have reached the conclusion not to fear terrorism and not to fear a solution. And such Palestinians exist; such Palestinians will be found. I also think that Hussein himself represents a large number of Palestinians. Permit me - I hope I won't offend you and not even MK Tawfiq Toubi: After all, all the residents of Judea and Samaria have Jordanian passports, not yours. And they prefer to hold on to them.
I would like to tell you two things about the right to self-determination. First, the right to self-determination is reserved only for a situation of democracy without violence. Self-determination is a right granted only in situations of freedom of choice without violence and without terrorism. Secondly: The Israel government has agreed that the Palestinians will participate in the determination of their own future, since this is not a country that belongs only to them. The IDF is today in Judea and Samaria because it was attacked. It is not an occupation army, it is absolutely an army that defended the life of this country. We shall not be swayed by all these distortions. Truth will be uttered from this rostrum, and I say this as one who is looking for a genuine solution.
Also want to tell MK Mattiyahu Peled that we are neither confused nor stuttering. This government was established a year and a quarter ago. A year ago it decided to stop one war. It was stopped. This week it decided to improve the peace with Egypt, and it will be improved. I hope that King Hussein and true Palestinians who want peace - that these Palestinians will find the courage to come and sit with us at one table, just as the Likud will be there, since it has undertaken to do so.
And to talk without preconditions about solving the problem. I know that the Jordanians won't accept what we are going to suggest. I know that we don't accept what the Jordanians are suggesting. Since we have a disagreement, we need negotiations, direct negotiations between us. With all due respect for the superpowers, I don't see a significant contribution to the negotiations emerging from their participation in them and quarreling amongst themselves.
I believe in the peace process, I think that it is vital for Jordan, it is vital for Israel, the Palestinians need it. I believe that we want to solve [the problem] in an honorable and serious manner, without terror, without intimidating anyone, without destructive forces which you call moderate for reasons I don't know. At most, you can call them evasive, either of the truth or of a decision.