Upon his return from the United States, the Prime Minister briefed the Cabinet on the talks in New York and Washington and reported progress on the issue of the FRD. He announced a forthcoming visit by Secretary Albright to prepare for the summit meeting. He promised his Cabinet a detailed discussion prior to his departure for the Washington summit. Text:
At the weekly Cabinet meeting today (Thursday), 1.10.98:
The Prime Minister briefed the Cabinet on his visit to the United States. The Prime Minister said that, in all his meetings, he emphasized that peace must be based on reciprocity and security, that peace will be achieved only through negotiations, and that a unilateral declaration of statehood by the Palestinians will bring about unilateral Israeli action. Today, the international community better understands the need to achieve a permanent settlement through negotiations, rather than through Palestinian declarations of unilateral action.
The Prime Minister also said that he met with Arafat, in accordance with the proposal of U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. In both meetings with Arafat, which were held mostly in private, the Prime Minister emphasized the need for reciprocity and for Arafat to decisively combat terrorism. Secretary Albright will visit Israel over the Sukkot holiday in order to prepare for a summit meeting with the parties in an attempt to reach a comprehensive agreement, to certainly be brought for Cabinet approval. The Prime Minister added that reciprocity entails concrete implementation in keeping with an agreed timetable.
The Prime Minister said that the matter of the scope of the second redeployment has not yet been resolved, although progress has been achieved. Further discussion is still required to conclude the issues of the 10% and the additional area, to be defined as a "nature preserve". The Prime Minister said that the Cabinet is implementing its policy to fight an uncompromising war against terrorism, in every place and at all times. He praised the actions taken by the security services - headed by the GSS, the IDF and the Israel Police - against Hamas terrorism. Concerning the incident in Hebron, the Prime Minister said that Israel is calling on the Palestinian Authority to prevent terrorist attacks in the city and to cease its violations of the Hebron accords.
The Prime Minister told the Cabinet of his intention to present the main points of Israel's political proposals at the next Cabinet meeting, after the holidays, in advance of his departure for the United States.