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| PALESTINIAN'S REACT | |
 July 25, 2000  |
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One of the Palestinian's lead negotiators assesses the progress and fallout from two weeks of talks at Camp David.
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RAY SUAREZ: Joining us is Saeb Erekat, a member of the Palestinian delegation. Well, you just heard Mr. Eran refer to a serious setback, and the President of the United States talk about significant progress. From your delegation's point of view, what was accomplished in the last two weeks? SAEB EREKAT, Palestinian Delegation: I think a lot of significant developments. I have been listening to the negotiations since they began in Madrid. Today after the completion of the two weeks negotiations at Camp David, I feel Palestinians and Israelis are much closer to a peace agreement than any time before. No one expected that we'd come here in two weeks and we would see the white smoke coming out of Camp David. These are issues that relates to our history, our religion, our psychology. This is the past, our present, and our future. And I'm talking about Israelis and Palestinians. A lot was achieved. I don't see any point trying to assign blame as I heard Mr. Eran say. I don't think it will serve any purpose. I agreed with Mr. Eran in your studios that I will meet him next Sunday back home, and we have no option but to continue these negotiations, and never in nine years of negotiations have Palestinians and Israelis been more clear and more focused on issues, and I believe the prospects for an agreement today are stronger, bigger than any time in the last nine years. RAY SUAREZ: Prime minister Barak himself said that the delegation, his delegation was ready to make peace. Secretary of Albright said the Palestinians were not ready to rise to the challenge. First, do you agree with that description? SAEB EREKAT: I don't think I will get into an argument trying to assign blame. I think we need Mr. Barak as a partner. We need to bring President Arafat and Mr. Barak to the level of full trust. I think the days ahead of us will witness the continuation of the negotiations. I don't think this in any way, and I didn't like the term you used actually, collapse. It did not collapse. The peace process will go on. I think what happened at Camp David must be viewed in terms of the complexities of all these issues. Now, for the first time, for the first time in our history, we have sat down and negotiated Jerusalem. For the first time in 53 years of conflict, we negotiated refugees, we negotiated a border; we negotiated security. And honestly, we met the expectations that were so high. But at the same time, when someone says that Barak came in more than Arafat, what kind of measurements they're using? If they mean July 11, I don't know, maybe. But if they mean October, 1991 until now, all this peace process, I think, as Palestinians, we came a long way. I will not get into scoring points or assigning blame. This will not serve any purpose. We need to capitalize on what we did at Camp David. We did a lot. A great deal was achieved. I'm not undermining the gaps that remain on the issues and the major issues, but once again, I say, that today, July 25, Palestinians and Israelis stand on a stronger ground that will enable them to reach a comprehensive agreement on all permanent status issues no later than September 13. RAY SUAREZ: Let's take your description of this as a foundation for the eventual comprehensive settlement. Is it still being done on the deadline of September 13, the declaration of Palestinian statehood? SAEB EREKAT: Let me explain what September 13... September 13 is an article that appeared in a magazine which was signed by President Arafat and Mr. Barak and signed also by Madame Albright and the Egyptian President, Mr. Hosni Mubarak and the King of Jordan. It specified that both sides would reach an agreement no later than September 13. That's an agreement between the Palestinians, the Israelis, and signed with the Americans, the Egyptians, and Jordanians. I believe the seven weeks ahead, we must exert every possible effort in order to continue what we began. I said the foundations today are much stronger than any time before. I believe, as someone who negotiated since Madrid until now, Israeli positions have never been more clearer to me than what they were in the last two weeks -- thanks to the brilliance, the dedication of President Clinton and his team. I think they did a superb job. I don't know how long it would have taken me as a Palestinian negotiator to sit in front of my Israeli colleagues and discuss what was discussed in the last ten days or 14 days. RAY SUAREZ: But with September 14 so close, if you continue to make progress on the issues, does this become a confining thing, or a useful thing to have this deadline still waiting? SAEB EREKAT: I think we must continue with maximum effort, and I believe we can reach an agreement before September 14, I really do. RAY SUAREZ: On the issue of Jerusalem, you've referred to this as the future capital of the Palestinian state and the future capital of the state of Israel. In the view of many people, these are reconcilable visions of the same plot of land. How do you work that? SAEB EREKAT: I've seen lots of things happening at Camp David. I believe at the end of the day, this is the issue that will either make or break the process. I believe that we can do it. I believe that, as I said earlier today, you know, Jerusalem is unique. Jerusalem... We agreed we want to maintain Jerusalem as an open city. We want to have free access to religious places. We want to maintain the integrity of Islam, Christianity and Judaism. But that's the uniqueness of Jerusalem. No one should be able to know the difference between a Muslim stone, a Christian stone, and a Jewish stone. And, historically speaking, once a stone like this decides to expand, we're going to have bloodshed. And I believe we will reach an accommodation that will enable us to see Jerusalem as the capital of the state of Palestine and the capital of the state of Israel. RAY SUAREZ: During these negotiations, did you have conversations with Israeli counterparts that you couldn't have imagined having about Jerusalem three years ago, five years ago, ten year ago? SAEB EREKAT: Well, listen, I'll be fair; they've heard certain things from us they could not have imagined three years ago. We heard things from them that we could not have imagined three years ago. It was a somewhat hard work, dedication. I think both sides did everything they can. I think the complexities of the issues on both Arafat and Mr. Barak were enormous. And I think those who put the high expectations of solving all the issues in ten days must reassess, and I think they were told to do so before the summit-began. I believe this will go on to history, Mark my words, July 1st-- July 11, July 25, under the auspices of President Clinton, the Palestinians and Israelis have planted the seeds for comprehensive and major peace in the region. RAY SUAREZ: Saeb Erekat, thanks for joining us. SAEB EREKAT: Thank you. |
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