Jerusalem, 24 December 2000
PM Barak: Washington talks designed to lead to reduction in violence and implementation of Sharm understandings, and consider
possibility of resumption of negotiations
(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)
Prime Minister Ehud Barak, at the weekly Cabinet meeting today
(Sunday), December 24, 2000, commented on the Washington talks
and said that the contacts are designed to lead to a reduction in
the violence and the implementation of the Sharm understandings,
and are evaluating the possibility of resuming the negotiations.
Prime Minister Barak said: "The two sides are holding difficult
and pointed discussions on the most painful issues. We should be
aware that should an agreement not be achieved and we slide -
Heaven forbid - towards a deterioration, cracks will appear in
the other peace agreements and Israels isolation against this
background of violence, will increase."
Prime Minister Barak referred to the issue of suspending progress
toward a solution for 5-10 years and said that there is a risk
that we would then face "an entirely new Middle East" vis-a-vis
non-conventional weapons, fundamentalism and a surge in organized
terrorism.
Prime Minister Barak declared that political realities in Israel
will not change the government's supreme obligation. "We will
never concede on our vital interests. At the same time, we must
examine every idea worthy of consideration, even if it is
painful."