In an effort to clarify the main issues facing Israeli and Palestinian
negotiators, Prime Minister Rabin and PA Chairman Arafat met in Erez
Checkpoint. The prime minister explained Israel's position on the five key
issues to be negotiated and clarified Israel's position on settlements and
the need to build bypass roads before the redeployment of the IDF from key
cities in Judea and Samaria. Following is a press statement by the prime
minister:
We met today in a crucial moment. The papers are full of complaints on
both sides. But we decided not to focus on detailed complaints but to
reaffirm our commitment to the DOP and to the implementation of its second
phase, after the implementation of Gaza and Jericho.
We discussed, in a small group, the main elements of the second phase,
that includes five elements: security, elections, redeployment, questions
related to the transfer of authorities, and economic matters. Agreement on
these five issues will enable us to start the implementation of the second
phase of the DOP.
To prevent any misunderstanding, I informed the Chairman about decisions
related to settlements and land in the territories - decisions that were
made by the Government of Israel in 1992 when we took over. I quote the
decisions that were made by the Government of Israel:
- First, to freeze all the decisions of former governments of Israel about
new settlements in the territories - and we did so.
- Second, to make sure that we will not allow, beyond what was agreed then
about buildings that were built, that government money will be spent for
housing in the territories.
- Third, that there will be no confiscation of land for housing in the
territories.
- Fourth, that government money will not be given in case of private
building within existing settlements.
- And, of course, fifth, that came about after the DOP, that during the
period of interim arrangements, no settlement will be uprooted.
I informed that all the stories about confiscation of land lately were
made only to build bypass roads, in preparation of the implementation of
the second phase of the DOP - to have a bypass of Tulkarem, to have a
bypass of Ramallah, for the Israelis, in order that once we will implement
the second phase, it will be more secure, without friction. No land was
confiscated for building houses or anything of this kind.
I believe that also we have agreed that there will be a meeting next week
between the Palestinian Authority representatives and our special
Ministers' committee about release of prisoners. We will facilitate
transfer of commodities and goods from Egypt to the Gaza Strip and some
other matters in the economic fields.
But the main point that I would like to stress: There are difficulties.
The Israelis are bothered by terrorism, the Palestinians by the
settlements and land. We have to focus on the continuation of negotiations
to implement that we are committed to the Declaration of Principles: to
bring about elections, to bring about transfer of authority, to make sure
that security will prevail. Because terror is the main obstacle, from our
point of view, on the way to implementing the next phase.
This is our purpose. To this we are committed. On this, we offer to work
together.