World Tribune.com

Clinton timing release of his own comprehensive Mideast peace plan

By Steve Rodan, Middle East Newsline
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Thursday, September 28, 2000

RAMALLAH — President Bill Clinton is cradling a second draft of a U.S. peace document, awaiting the right moment to submit new proposals meant to bridge Israeli and Palestinian positions for a treaty.

Clinton's aides are sounding out senior Israeli and Palestinian negotiators in Washington over the next three days as the president considers when to launch what could be his last effort to complete a peace treaty. The bridging proposals will mark the first time the administration has drafted a comprehensive draft of Israeli-Palestinian peace.

Israeli and Palestinian sources said the U.S. draft comprises every issue discussed at the Camp David summit in July. This includes the future of Jerusalem, Palestinian refugees, borders, security arrangements and water rights. If the draft is accepted by both sides, Israeli and Palestinian negotiators would form panels that would discuss every one of these subjects.

Portions of the U.S. document have already been discussed with Egypt and Jordan, both of which have been promoting the peace efforts. Egyptian officials said Israel has softened its position, particularly on the Jerusalem issue.

"I would say that we are at the start of a very intensive effort -- to an extent a final one in this round -- in an attempt to reach a breakthrough in the negotiations with the Palestinians," Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak said.

Palestinian Authority International Cooperation Minister Nabil Shaath compares the U.S. document to a large package. Shaath said Israel and Palestinians would discuss each issue separately and if agreement is achieved, place that aside and proceed to unresolved matters.

"Jerusalem would be a subpackage within that package," Shaath said. "If we make subpackage agreements, we will pocket and keep them. You sign the agreement when all the packages are ready."

Shaath envisions the start of the negotiations based on Clinton's proposals beginning over the next two weeks and continuing throughout the last months of his administration. Unlike his Israeli conterparts, the PA minister does not see the U.S. congressional recess on Oct. 6 or presidential elections the following months as deadlines.

Israeli and PA officials said the next step is up to Clinton. They said that during the United Nations millennium celebrations earlier this month Clinton sounded out Barak and PA Chairman Yasser Arafat on their positions regarding all aspects of a peace treaty in an effort to determine the extent of their agreement.

From those meetings, White House and State Department officials drafted principles for a comprehensive peace treaty. The first draft was completed and submitted on Sept. 19. Clinton, they said, called for revisions. Three days later, the president was given a second draft.

"There are many ideas out there, and that at this stage there is no American proposal that is on the table," U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright told a Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday. "We are looking at ways that we can be of assistance."

Israeli and PA officials said neither side has seen the U.S. draft but both have been consulted by State Department officials. They said the PA was at first hesitant to agree to the principle of a U.S. draft, fearing that the document had already been approved by Israel.

But later Arafat was assuaged and agreed for Clinton to proceed with the effort. A key step, the officials said, was a Monday night visit by Arafat to Barak's home where the two men renewed what aides described as their personal chemistry.

"They fully realize that there is an opportunity that must be realized to reach an agreement even if they have to compromise on some issues that they originally thought that they couldn't compromise on," Israeli Justice Minister Yossi Beilin said.

Clinton's scenario, the officials said, began with consultations on Tuesday in Arlington, Va. with senior Israeli and PA negotiators. If the meetings succeed, the U.S. president will present his peace plan to Arafat and Barak. At that point, Clinton will schedule another summit that will negotiate an agreement based on the U.S. document.

PA officials insist they are not rushing to reach an accord. But they acknowledge that they are in a hurry to obtain Israeli and U.S. agreement for a declaration of Palestinian statehood. They point out that Arafat has twice delayed plans for statehood because of U.S. and Western objections.

On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution that called for an end to U.S. aid for any Palestinian state that is declared unilaterally.

Arafat's new policy, officials said, is not to set a deadline for statehood.

This time, they said, Arafat will declare statehood when he determines that he has obtained U.S. support.

"President Arafat has twice delayed a declaration and his credibility with his people is at stake," Shaath said. "Setting another date would be a mistake."

Thursday, September 28, 2000

Subscribe to World Tribune.com's Daily Headline Alert
One-stop shopping for world news

Contact World Tribune.com at world@worldtribune.com

Return toWorld Tribune.com front page
Your window on the world