The prime minister explained the meaning of the conditions that the Likud now attached to the peace initiative by saying that some of them were part of the Likud platform. One, pertaining to the vote of East Jerusalem Arabs, was decided in 1982 by the Begin government. He said that the Likud did not alter "one iota of the peace initiative that we proposed to the U.S., to the Arabs of Judea and Samaria and Gaza and to the Arab countries." He felt that the Arabs could negotiate with Israel on the basis of the plan. Excerpts:
Q: The three ministers who oppose your initiative have said that the decision made today by the Likud central committee is their victory, and that there will be no movement in the peace process without acceptance of their four principles. Do you agree?
A: I find it difficult to believe that anybody could say or think such a thing. These' matters contain nothing new. Some of them are identical with the government's basic guidelines, and some constitute the Likud's - and of course, my own - clear, known and open principles. After all, it must be kept in mind that I wrote the entire speech yesterday.
Q: You did not change one iota of the speech since then?
A: I put in a word here and there. Essentially, however, I did not change any of its content. The same principles - I must tell you that there is one matter which perhaps directly concerns the peace initiative: The matter of East Jerusalem Arabs. There was never any doubt that this would be our stand. I said this from the outset, in speeches, in various appearances and in the presence of colleagues. This was former Prime Minister Menachem Begin's stand during the negotiations for autonomy. A Cabinet decision from September 1982 stipulates that East Jerusalem Arabs will not vote in elections for an administrative council of the autonomy area.
Q: That was not a national unity government.
A: Okay. But we were still ourselves. I was a Cabinet member. I have not changed my mind since then on such a matter of principle.
Q: What Arab element will be able to enter into negotiations on the basis of the Likud central committee's decision?
A: For example? What is new here? Correct, we have said 'no' to a Palestinian state, but this does not contradict what we are proposing. What, in fact, are we proposing to the Palestinian Arabs? two stages: the first stage, an interim settlement based on autonomy, and the second stage, negotiations on a permanent settlement without any prior conditions. this is firm and unchanged. We did not make any decision today contrary to this. ( ... )