Note: The translations of articles from the Hebrew press
are prepared by the Government Press Office
as a service to foreign journalists in Israel.
They express the views of the authors.
A Good Impression
(Commentary by Oded Granot, "Ma'ariv", July 12, 1999, p. A3)
Ehud Barak did not go to the Erez crossing yesterday in order to conduct
negotiations with Arafat. He went there to achieve only one objective: to
restore the trust that was shattered during the Netanyahu era, and to
persuade the Palestinians that he is serious about making a deal.
The Palestinians were impressed by the depth and candor of this effort.
During their closed meeting, Barak reminded them that he is not a
politician, but a military officer. He spoke of the task that he has taken
upon himself -- to follow in Rabin's footsteps and to realize the goal
which Rabin was unable to achieve during his lifetime. "I want to achieve
peace," he told them, "and I am serious."
According to the Palestinians, Barak even implied that he would reconsider
some decisions made by the previous government regarding construction in
the territories and then, cautiously and without going into details, he
proposed the famous combination formula to the Chairman -- the
implementation of the Wye accord together with progress toward a permanent
settlement.
Arafat predicted this. He took a piece of paper in hand and recited a list
of Palestinian demands rejecting, among other things, this particular
formula. First, Wye must be fully implemented. Everything else must come
afterward.
But again, no negotiations were conducted at Erez, and the first meeting
between Arafat and the new Prime Minister was very friendly and warm. "My
partner and friend," the Chairman called Barak -- as he once did Rabin --
and gave him the time-out he sought. A few weeks to complete the round of
consultations "before moving forward."
Last night, among the Palestinian camp, there were favorable impressions
of the meeting with the Prime Minister and the general feeling in the
Chairman's office was that the ice had been broken and that the road had
been paved for progress in the peace process. In the same breath, however,
they added that confidence is built not only with words -- but also, and
primarily, with actions.