Intensive diplomatic efforts to revive the peace process conducted with the new Clinton administration and primarily with Secretary of State Warren Christopher, resulted in an Israel- U.S. understanding based on a number of measures. Israel agreed to return immediately 100 deportees, and the IDF was instructed to reduce the terms of the rest by hay' The procedure for the right to appeal will be continued and medical supplies assured. For its part, the U. S. will prevent adverse decisions by the Security Council, will enhance the resumption of the peace talks and will seek third countries' willingness to host the deportees. This was the gist of the package deal. The deportees rejected the understanding and chose to remain in Camp Zumraya to gain whatever international attention they could. Text of the English portion of Mr. Rabin's speech at the press conference follows:
The guidelines of my policy, the policy of the Government of Israel in the field of peace and security was guided by three basic principles: First, to continue the peace negotiations in the framework of the Madrid Conference, while this Government put a different content to the negotiations, realizing that peace can be achieved by compromises on both sides. Israel was and is ready to make the compromises that will bring about peace and security.
The second principle is to fight terrorism, especially the terror that aims to kill not only Israelis and Palestinians but to kill the peace negotiations. I am referring to the extreme Islamic groups: Hamas, Islamic Jihad.
The third principle that has guided the policy of my Government was to create an understanding between Israel and the U.S. in view of future developments: namely, to advance the peace process without endangering Israel's security, and to cope with the terror which is aimed against peace.
These three principles led me to decide to expel over 400 leaders, instigators and organizers of Hamas and the Islamic Ahad, about six weeks ago. We delivered a real blow to Hamas: Hundreds are in jail or in military installations, on top of the 400 that had been temporarily removed. Hamas suffered such a setback that they were obliged to send two American citizens of Palestinian origin - activists of Hamas - who came to Israel to make sure that communication will be established and money channeled to them, that is, to reorganize and try to reverse the setback to Hamas in the territories.
As I took the decision then, I had to bear in mind some problems: First, the delay that was imposed on us ... enabling the Lebanese authorities to get organized to prevent them from reaching the heart of Lebanon. Then, there were the appeals to our Supreme Court, and I did not know what the Supreme Court would decide until it was announced by the court that very day. Now we face a problem on the international scene. In three to four days of intensive discussions, I wanted to create an understanding between our two countries as to how to approach the problem, knowing the differences between the U.S. and Israel on the question of deportation. We have succeeded to work out an understanding according to which Israel will permit the return of about 100 deportees, according to our decision, from among the least serious offenders of those who were deported. This will be done - if they agree to come back - in two to four days from now.
Secondly, I instructed the chief of the General Staff and the generals in charge of the central and southern commands to reduce the time of removal by half. Since most of those returned will be of the lower echelon, they are mainly those who recieved sentences of one and a half years.
Thirdly, whatever the Supreme Court has decided - the right to appeal, the machinery of the appeal, and the continuation of the work of the Review Committee (to check all the deportees' records), all this will be continued for the remaining 300 that will remain or disperse.
Fourthly, the facilitation of supplies by helicopter, including medical assistance, to those who stay there.
On the part of the U.S. I have reason to believe that the latter will prevent any decision of the international forum -any decisions that have operative meaning to Israel regarding this issue.
Secondly, that the U.S. will make a special effort to enable the resumption of the peace negotiations, for after all this is the main purpose of our efforts - setting aside Hamas, whose purpose is to torpedo the peace process.
Three, the U.S. will try to find out which countries will be willing to host the remainder of the 300 deportees for their period of removal.
We have agreed that this is a package deal. Once Israel fulfills its part, America will do her part. All through the process, there will be no "Salami tactics," there will be no possibility for the deportees to demand that either they are all returned or none. The U.S. will stick to our understanding.
This is in essence what we have agreed on. For me it was not an easy decision. But I believe that in order to fulfill the three basic guidelines: the pursuit of peace, the resumption of the peace negotiations; fighting terrorism, especially Hamas and the Islamic Jihad; and thirdly, creating a basis of understanding between us and the new administration of President Clinton - that is only just beginning its term - and to facilitate its capability to achieve its goals. I believe this decision was needed, and I presented it to the Government as my proposal. It was unanimously approved in the cabinet. I take full responsibility for all the decisions, from the deportation to this recent decision.