The importance that the new Clinton Administration attached to the Middle East was seen by the visit to the region of Secretary of State Christopher less than a month after the inauguration of President Clinton. Since the issue of the deportees was dealt with through normal diplomatic channels prior to the visit, the agenda of the talks included the resumption of the peace process, bilateral relations and the exchange of views and evaluations on regional and global issues. Following the meeting with the prime minister, Mr. Rabin and Secretary Christopher held a joint press conference. It was revealed that Mr. Rabin would visit Washington in the second week of March to meet President Clinton. Text:
Prime Minister Rabin: We more than appreciate the decision of President Clinton and the secretary of state to have the first visit of the secretary of state, after President Clinton took the office of the President of the United States, to come to the Middle East with the purpose of bringing about the resumption of the peace negotiations.
I believe that the visit of the secretary of state, the discussions, the talks that were held now in Israel, no doubt will serve as a landmark in the relationship between our two countries, in the efforts to invigorate the peace negotiations and to bring about their resumption. I believe that during the visit of the secretary of state here in Israel, I had the opportunity and the pleasure to have in-depth talks, and I hope that my assumption that we succeeded to establish special relations - relations of friendship, understanding, and candidness. I believe that in the talks that were held here, we discussed a variety of issues, first and foremost what has to be done to bring about the resumption of the peace negotiations. How to make sure that once they will be resumed, they lead in 1993 to results - results that I believe all the peoples, all the countries of this region expect them to achieve. This is to say, to have a breakthrough that will lead to peace between Israel and its neighboring countries and the Palestinians.
I hope and I believe that the visit of the secretary of state, not only to Israel, but also to the other capitals of the Arab countries that are directly involved in the peace negotiations, and the others, will create a new atmosphere in the region, an atmosphere that will be conducive to bring about meaningful peace negotiations. We have discussed at length the special relations between the United States and Israel, and there's no doubt in my mind that these relations will be developed and strengthened in the interest of the two countries. And no doubt, this development will bring about and will facilitate many things that we, together, try to achieve in this region.
Mr. Secretary, thank you very much for your patience, your readiness to listen, to travel, to see. I believe that we put on you quite a burden of work during the two days that you stayed in Israel. Allow me through you to send my thanks and congratulations to President Clinton about his decision to give such a high priority to solve the difficulties that prevented until now the achievement of the peace negotiations. Thank you very much, Mr. Secretary.
Secretary Christopher: Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for those very warm words, I've just concluded the last of my meetings here in Jerusalem, and let me say I've tremendously enjoyed my stay here. The detailed discussions that I've had with the prime minister, the foreign minister and their colleagues were serious and productive and very helpful to me...
Over the last three days we have strengthened and deepened the special relationship between our two nations. On a personal note, as the prime minister so seriously said, I am pleased that we've developed a close and personal relationship. I know that President Clinton is looking forward to greeting Prime Minister Rabin in Washington in the very near future, and looking forward to that development in a similar relationship. The relationship that the prime minister and I have established is symbolic of the friendship between our two nations - a friendship that's based upon deep and enduring interest, shared values and common interests. My stay here was all too short, but it did give me an opportunity to learn just a little bit about the rich history of this ancient land, and to feel a sense of the dynamism of the modern, vibrant democracy.
in my visit to Yad Vashem, I was reminded again of the extraordinary uniqueness of the Jewish state. And this morning in my visit to northern Israel, I was again reminded that the Jewish state continues to face very substantial security challenges. It's high time for Israel to be able to enjoy the acceptance of its neighbors in the security that comes from having a just and lasting peace. I know that the people of Israel yearn for that day, and I know that the Israeli Government is doing all that they can to achieve it.
After visiting with the leaders of the significant parties to the negotiations, I have a very real sense that all the parties want the negotiations to succeed. They want them to resume and succeed at an early date, and they agree that they should redouble their efforts to that end. I've also had in the last two days serious and thoughtful discussions with the Palestinians. The Palestinian representatives with whom I spoke emphasized their commitment to seek peace with Israel, and they express their understanding of the stake that they have in seeking that peace. I leave the Middle East hopeful but cognizant that there still are obstacles - obstacles that will have to be overcome. But I sense among all the parties that they want to seek and make peace. If that translates into an early resumption of the peace talks, as I hope it will, the United States stands ready to be a full partner. Before I left Washington I said that I was coming to the region to learn, to find the facts, to get to know the leaders in this area. I have accomplished far more in that sense than I'd expected, and I've had substantive discussions far deeper than I'd anticipated.
This is a region that has known too much war and too much violence in its past. The parties are at a historic crossroads. This is an opportunity which I hope all the parties will embrace, and well do our part to help them in that regard. Thank you very much.
Q: Mr. Secretary and Prime Minister, could you each comment please on what progress, if any, you actually did make toward removing the deportation issue as an obstacle to resuming the talks, and give us some indication of how early a date you think the talks might resume on?
Secretary Christopher: Before I came out here I said I didn't expect that we'd be able to establish any date on this trip, and I think that's proved to be right. But I think we made progress in explaining the situation with respect to the deportees, indicating that a process is underway which will resolve that issue. And without being able to establish any timetable, I'll tell you that we're going to be working on this problem over the next several days, weeks, and I hope there will be an early resumption of the peace talks.
Prime Minister Rabin: I don't believe that I can add to what the secretary just said,
Q: Mr. Secretary, what are you suggesting that Israel do in order to persuade the Palestinians to return to the negotiating table?
Secretary Christopher: I'm really talking to the Palestinians about their stake in this endeavor. I've told them that the United States wishes to play, will play, an active role if the peace talks are resumed. I've indicated to them that we'll act to facilitate the talks in a more active way than we have in the past. But I've also emphasized to them that until the talks are resumed, there's no way for us to be useful in this endeavor. I'm not in the business of pressuring the Israelis to do anything. It's a government that takes action in its own interests. I've had good conversations on these issues with the prime minister, as I've had in the past, and I hope that events over the next days and weeks will bring about a resumption of the negotiations.
Q: Mr. Prime Minister, do you regard deportation as an exception to Israeli policy, as your foreign minister has stated? And is Israel prepared to speed up the processing of the paper work of those who have been deported?
Prime Minister Rabin: Allow me to refer you to my statement on the day that the cabinet took the decision - to my statement in the Knesset. I made it clear that the temporary removal, or the deportation of the 400 leaders, instigators, organizers of Hamas, is unprecedented and an exception. I stated it in the past, and I can only reiterate what I said when these decisions were taken.
Q: (inaudible - on the process of review and appeal)
Prime Minister Rabin: I believe that there is an understanding about what will be done. As you know, Israel has agreed to certain elements. They are known. There are of course certain elements which are not known: What the Review Committee will decide? Or if they will appeal to the committees of appeal? Therefore, there are certain issues about which I can't give you details. They will not change the situation dramatically.
Q: Mr. Secretary, first of all, is it your sense that other Arab countries will come to the peace table if the Palestinians decide to continue their boycott? And secondly, what can you tell us about your talks with Mr. Assad, about how willing Syria is to sign a peace treaty with Israel in return for some form of withdrawal on the Golan Heights?
Secretary Christopher: I would say that they're all anxious to resume the peace talks. They think that they should start as early as possible. I can't predict their exact attitude with respect to other parties, but each of them indicated to me that they thought that there was a strong desire throughout the region to recommence the talks, and they hoped that conditions will make that possible, With respect to President Assad, I'm not going to go into the detailed exchanges we had, except to indicate that the peace talks should resume. I think he feels that his country has an important stake in moving forward on the peace talks, as well as others.