Clinton Administration Faces Challenges in Reviving Israeli-Palestinian Peace Talks

Strategic Insights -

Despite a week of intensive shuttle diplomacy by the Clinton administration, a breakthrough in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations remains elusive. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in London, but her team has expressed concerns that significant gaps remain in the two leaders' positions. The administration is seeking to convince Netanyahu to cede additional West Bank territory in exchange for better cooperation on security matters, but the prime minister has indicated he is unwilling to give up more than 10 percent of the territory without compromising Israel's security.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Clinton administration is attempting to convince Netanyahu to cede 13 percent of the West Bank to the Palestinians, with the goal of achieving final status talks on the creation of a Palestinian state, the disposition of Jerusalem, and the return of refugees.
  • Arafat has publicly accepted the American proposal for a 13 percent withdrawal, which would give the Palestinians autonomy over nearly 40 percent of the West Bank.
  • Vice President Al Gore and American mediator Dennis Ross have been shuttling between the two leaders in an effort to break the logjam in negotiations.
  • The Clinton administration is pressuring Netanyahu to cooperate on security matters in exchange for the transfer of West Bank territory.
  • The peace talks have been frozen for 14 months, and there are concerns about the "grave dangers" in the Middle East if the process fails.
  • Secretary of State Albright has been in "constant contact" with Vice President Gore and American mediator Ross throughout the crisis.
  • James P. Rubin, Albright's spokesman, has expressed concerns that significant gaps remain in the two leaders' positions, and that the process cannot continue indefinitely.

Statistics:

  • The Clinton administration is seeking to convince Netanyahu to cede 13 percent of the West Bank to the Palestinians.
  • Arafat has accepted the American proposal for a 13 percent withdrawal, which would give the Palestinians autonomy over nearly 40 percent of the West Bank.
  • The peace talks have been frozen for 14 months.
  • The Clinton administration is attempting to achieve final status talks on the creation of a Palestinian state, the disposition of Jerusalem, and the return of refugees.
  • Vice President Gore visited Israel this week to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Jewish state.

Sources:

  • United Press International, (ULAN BATOR, Mongolia, May)