Speaking to his party's Knesset faction, Mr. Rabin said that his plan called for a number of stages. The first a period of calm, then preparations for elections, elections, the beginning of a transition period and finally negotiations for a final settlement. He appealed to the residents of the territories not to reject his plan, saying that they had to lead the fight for the Palestinian issue. No one else could lead in its solution. Excerpts:
On willingness to launch negotiations with residents of territories:
"All this while, we have indeed been attempting this track. Today it is more feasible than in the past, and whoever does not understand this, does not understand anything. Because whoever hears them - not in statements to the press - [this is what] they are saying: "The uprising has enabled us to lift our heads, has brought our matter to the attention of the public, has created conditions, and we have forced Arafat's hand."
On revision of his plan:
"I am willing to hold talks now, to reach an agreement on the course to be adopted. When this agreement is reached, a period of calm will ensue. In my opinion, if we want free elections, they cannot be held in an atmosphere of violence - not only between Arabs and Jews, but between Arabs and Arabs. Therefore, the agreement must be an all-inclusive one. As soon as a comprehensive agreement is reached, there ensues a period of calm, preparations for elections, elections, negotiations for the implementation of a transition period, the implementation of a transition period, and, following an agreed-upon interval after their implementation, negotiations for a permanent solution."
On the need for supportive Arab elements:
"Residents of the territories: you, and only you, are currently in conflict with us; it is you who are contending with us; it is you who lead the fight for the Palestinian issue. You must also be the leaders of its solution."