Approaches/Peace process review: October 1992

APPROACHES TOWARDS

THE SETTLEMENT

OF THE ARAB-ISRAELI CONFLICT

AND THE QUESTION OF PALESTINE

Issue 17  –   October 1992

United Nations

New York, November 1992

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

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NOTE

Since April 1991, at the request of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, the Division for Palestinian Rights of the United Nations Secretariat has prepared on a monthly basis a compilation of relevant recent statements, declarations and proposals regarding the settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict, including the question of Palestine and the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East for the use of the Committee members and observers.  The present issue covers the month of October 1992.

Reproduced herein are only those parts of the statements, declarations, documents, proposals and initiatives, quoted or summarized, which relate to the Arab-Israeli conflict and the question of Palestine.

Excerpts from a statement by the United States Assistant Secretary

of State for Near Eastern Affairs and Acting Assistant Secretary

for South Asian Affairs before the Subcommittee on Europe and the

Middle East of the House Foreign Affairs Committee,

Washington, D.C., 1 October 1992

On 1 October 1992, at Washington, D.C., in a statement before the Subcommittee on Europe and the Middle East of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Edward P. Djerejian, United State Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs and Acting Assistant Secretary for South Asian Affairs, presented an update of the Arab-Israeli peace negotiations.  He said the following, inter alia,

"…

"Peace Process

"If you allow me, we can begin with an update of the peace process.  In mid-July, shortly after the new Israeli Government was formed, former Secretary of State Baker made a trip to the Near East, where he met with the leaders of Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the Palestinians, and Israel.  The Secretary had wanted to set the stage for a renewal of the peace talks following the brief recess for the Israeli elections.  Noting that the change in leadership in Israel offered opportunities for 'positive forward movement in this process', the Secretary welcomed Prime Minister Rabin's suggestion that the peace talks be 'relatively continuous'.

"The new Government also announced its intention to change Israel's priorities away from settlement activities and the occupied territories and toward the resolution of pressing economic and social problems within Israel.  The Israeli Government took steps to begin to improve the atmosphere on the ground in the occupied territories. Work was halted on many of the settlements, and certain incentives for settlers were reduced or eliminated.  The Government of Israel rescinded orders to deport Palestinians and released hundreds of Palestinian prisoners who had been detained for security reasons.

"This new direction in Israel made it possible for the President to announce, on August 11, that he and Prime Minister Rabin had reached agreement on the basic principles to govern the granting of up to $10 billion in loan guarantees to Israel.  The President noted that he and the Prime Minister had agreed to an approach which will assist the resettlement of immigrants from the former Soviet Union and Ethiopia without frustrating the search for peace.  On September 11, the Administration forwarded a legislative package to Congress to authorize the guarantees.

"Bilateral Talks

"The sixth round of bilateral talks, which [began] on August 24 in Washington, was conducted in a positive atmosphere of professionalism and cordiality.  Unlike previous rounds, an enhanced seriousness of purpose and substantive engagement characterized these negotiating sessions.  There was a greater effort on the part of all the delegations to avoid posturing and excessive rhetoric before the media – a fact which also helped to improve communication at the bargaining table.

"The parties are definitely grappling with the tough, key issues of land, peace, and security.  They have learned that there are no instant, simple solutions and are dealing with the substantive complexities of the issues.  While there were no breakthroughs during this round, we believe the parties have laid a good foundation for future progress.  In that respect, all sides  Israeli, Arab, and Palestinian  in the talks and in the region are engaged in an historic dialogue on peace, and we must not lose sight of that fundamental fact.

"In each bilateral, some progress was registered in narrowing gaps and defining areas for further negotiating sessions.  At the bargaining table, substantive papers, which provide a foundation for further negotiation, were presented by the Syrians, Palestinians, and Israelis.  While I must refrain from delving in the details of these papers, it is important to emphasize the following:

· Significantly, Syria and Israel, for the first time, have put forward papers representing their respective views with regard to a possible joint statement of principles.  The papers begin to address the core issues of this process namely territory, security, and peace.  There are some common elements in their respective positions, but important substantive differences remain.  Both sides continue to explore for greater clarity on the key issues of importance to them.  Moreover, some constructive statements by Prime Minister Rabin and [Syrian] President Assad have reinforced progress at the table and have focused public opinion in Israel and Syria on the prospects for peace.

· Palestinians and Israelis are engaged in discussing substance and establishing a work plan.  There are legitimate differences over both the form and substance of interim self-government arrangements.  But for the first time, there is a specific proposed timetable for elections and the inauguration of a transitional period.  Indeed, the prospect of the Palestinians beginning to govern themselves is within reach. It is essential that no more time be lost and that the parties engaged to make this possible.

· In the talks between Lebanon and Israel, discussion focused on the structure for addressing the security situation on the ground.  Differences between the parties remain concerning implementation of UN Security Council resolution 425 [1978] and other issues.  Israel reiterated that it has no territorial or water claims in Lebanon, however, and the parties appear ready to take up the central security issues without prejudice to these broader questions.

· In the Jordanian-Israeli bilaterals, the two sides continues working on an overall framework and agenda for future negotiations and held informal discussions on several key issues, such as water, energy, security, and finance.  More work needs to be done to narrow the gaps on the agenda, and ways are being explored to achieve this, so that progress can be made on this issue.

"In our assessment, serious engagement has begun.  Each of the parties is disappointed that not more was accomplished during this round; that in itself is a positive indicator of the continued commitment and interest of the parties in achieving progress.  We were, and remain, in intensive contact with all the parties, and we have made concrete suggestions for bridging gaps that exist.  Acting Secretary Eagleburger met with all the delegations, and we will be communicating with all the parties in between rounds.  Through these contacts, we hope to maintain the momentum for productive engagement when the negotiations resume in Washington on October 21.  In sum, we continue to play our role as a co-sponsor, honest broker, catalyst, and driving force for these negotiations.

"Multilateral Talks

"The third round of multilateral talks began [on] September 15 here in Washington, where the water resources working group met, and in Moscow, where Russia hosted the arms control and regional security working group.  Both groups succeeded in defining practical approaches on which the parties could engage and in soliciting proposals for confidence-building measures for future study.  Meetings of the working groups on refugees, the environment, and economic development will convene in other capital cities in October and November.

"The water resources group launched studies about both conserving and enhancing the region's limited water supply.  The 2-day meeting in Washington was followed by a field trip to Knoxville hosted by the Tennessee Valley Authority.  The next working group meeting is planned for Switzerland, early next year.

"The working group on arms control and regional security met in Moscow September 15-17 under US-Russian co-chairmanship.  The meeting succeeded in its principal objective of getting the regional parties to begin discussing practical measures for reducing tension and the risk of conflict in the region.  The parties have agreed to explore confidence-building measures such as crisis communications and data exchange arrangements, as part of the agenda for upcoming arms control and regional security meetings.

"The very fact that Arabs and Israelis are sitting together is remarkable, and we are encouraged by the serious, business-like quality of their exchanges.

"Syria and Lebanon have stayed away from the multilateral process for their own reasons.  Israel has decided not to participate in two of the five groups.  We persist in efforts to persuade these parties that participation in all of these working groups is truly in their best interests.

"We continue to believe that the multilateral phase of the talks complements the bilaterals, which, of course, remain the focal point of the peace process.  Initial results of the working group meetings indicate to us, however, the potential the multilaterals hold for advancing peace in the region as a whole."1/

Extracts from an interview with Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin,

Jerusalem, 20 October 1992

On 20 October 1992, at Jerusalem, in an interview with the foreign press, attended by an Al-Hayat correspondent, Prime Minister of Israel Mr. Yitzhak Rabin expressed his views on the question of national rights of the Palestinian people.

Asked what long-term future Mr. Rabin had to propose to the Palestinians, he said:

"Primarily, I do not want to annex, of my own free will, 1.8 million Palestinians so that they become Israelis.  But that does not mean that I will relinquish all of the territories.  Secondly, new ideas crop up.  We must begin by changing the present situation."

"…

"After that?  For example, I have heard from Palestinians – and I am not saying that this is the position of all of them – that it is possible in the long term to establish a kind of federal relationship between them and us.  There might be a confederation [joining] us, the Palestinians and Jordan.  I do not think that the time is right today to discuss these ideas.  It will take a certain amount of time.  I support the idea, for example, that the Palestinians should build their own industries in the West Bank and Gaza Strip."

Questioned whether a Palestinian entity on a limited piece of territory in a confederal relationship with Jordan and security guarantees for Israel would be acceptable to him, Mr. Rabin said:

"I did not say what the borders separating us would be.  But I think that the more we now address the permanent solution, the less will be the possibility of bringing about change in the present situation.  For example, Jerusalem; if it is raised now, we will reach a dead end.

"…

"What is important now is that we make progress in the political negotiations.  When we succeed in bringing about change, we will thereby create new facts, and new ideas may arise.  Let us not be dogmatic now.  Let us begin with interim self-government.

"…

"I do not want to commit them [the Palestinians] to a particular idea.  They are now saying: an independent State.  It is their legitimate right to express what they aspire to as long as they continue to focus their efforts on transitional arrangements for self-government.  We are not obliged to adopt their point of view, and we have our point of view.  But let us leave aside what each of us wants at the permanent stage, and let us leave the door open for it."2/

Remarks by the Spokesman of the Secretary-General of the United Nations

on the question of the multilateral negotiations on regional issues,

United Nations Headquarters, 23 October 1992

On 23 October 1992, at a daily press briefing at United Nations Headquarters, the Spokesman for the Secretary-General of the United Nations stated the following on the question of the United Nations participation in the multilateral negotiations on regional issues:

"In the presence of the Permanent Representatives of the Russian Federation and the United States, which are the co-sponsors of the Middle East peace negotiations, the Permanent Representatives of Canada, France and the Netherlands yesterday delivered to the Secretary-General invitations to the United Nations to attend as a full extraregional participant three Working Groups on Middle East regional issues.  The Secretary-General will be represented at the Working Group on Environment, scheduled to take place at the Hague on 26-27 October, and at the Working Group on Economic and Regional Development, scheduled to take place in Paris on 29-30 October,  by Mr. James O.C. Jonah, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs. Mr. Jonah will be assisted by representatives of the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Environment Programme and the Secretariat of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.  The composition of the United Nations delegation to the Working Group on Refugees, to be held  in Ottawa from 11-12 November, will be announced in due course."3/

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Notes

1. United States Department of State Dispatch, October 5, 1992, Vol. 3, No. 40, pp. 745-746.

2. Al-Hayat (in Arabic), 20 October 1992.

3. As per text released on 23 October 1992 by the office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General.