By Munir K. Nasser
Washington, DC
President Bill Clinton expressed hope that a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians is still possible and urged the Palestinians to work hard on it.
He said in a television interview in Florida: “If they want it, they can get it, because they're close enough now.”
Clinton acknowledged that Jerusalem “is the most difficult issue,” adding that both sides did not agree on everything else, “But they're close enough that I think that we can still get an agreement.”
Clinton warned both sides that time is running out because they have pledged to finish by September 13th. “And that puts all kind of pressure, especially on the Palestinians. So they've got to keep working right now. They've got to do everything they can to get as much as they can done over the next six weeks,” he said.
Clinton expressed relief that Israeli Prime Minister Barak's government was confirmed in a no confidence vote in the Knesset and was not voted out of office. He stressed that he is waiting “to see if we can get some movement from the Palestinians as well and see if we can put this thing together again.”
He said both sides could get an agreement because of the time they have spent together at Camp David. “ I saw something after we had been there two weeks -- sort of the body language that the Israelis and the Palestinians, the way they relate to each other. They know each other. They call each other by their first names. They know their neighbors, whether they like it or not. They know their future is together, whether they would always want it to be or not. And they know their children are going to have to be partners, and hopefully friends; and I think they'll find a way. I do believe that,” he stressed.
Clinton made clear that “it is just a question of making sure that we keep pushing them.” He explained that “When you deal with issues this difficult and this painful, it's like going to the dentist without having your gums deadened. You're not going to do it unless somebody herds you on and you do it.”
In response to a question whether he would bring the parties back to Camp David, Clinton said
It is too premature to make a decision. “What I will try to do is do whatever I can to get the peace process up and going and to bring it to a speedy conclusion. But I do not know, honestly do not know, as we sit here and talk, what would be the most helpful. They've got to make the decisions and live with them; but we'll do everything we can to help.” – Albawaba.com
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
