Conclusion of the Camp David Summit

Conclusion of the Camp David Summit

Information Division, Israel Foreign Ministry, July 25, 2000

In the wake of the Camp David Summit, the following points must be
stressed:

1. The Middle East Peace Summit at Camp David ended today, July 25,
   without an agreement being reached.

2. Israel came to Camp David with the intention of reaching a
   Framework Agreement on the Israeli-Palestinian Permanent Status
   (FAPS), in order to bring about an end to the conflict and to secure
   peace for future generations. To reach such an agreement, Israel is
   prepared to make painful compromises, yet is unwilling to pay any
   price demanded of it.

3. Israel’s quest for a negotiated peace will continue. Israel
   welcomes the upcoming visit of a senior US envoy meant to promote a
   continuation of the negotiating process.

4. The positions presented by Israel at the Summit were well received
   and were accorded legitimacy by the US hosts. President Clinton, in
   his statement following the Summit, praised the flexibility shown by
   Prime Minister Barak and the Israel delegation during the talks.

5. Many ideas and proposals were presented by Israel during the
   course of the negotiations. However, the ground-rules of the Camp
   David talks established that, in the absence of an agreement, these
   negotiating positions are no longer valid and are rendered null and
   void. Consequently, the positions presented by Israel during the
   Summit cannot be used as the basis for Palestinian demands, claims
   and opening positions in future negotiations.

6. During the course of the Summit, the Palestinian leadership showed
   that it had not yet internalized the need to demonstrate flexibility
   and compromise on a number of key issues. In particular, the
   positions presented by Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat
   with regard to Jerusalem prevented the achievement of an agreement.
   The leadership of the Arab world did not provide Arafat with
   sufficient backing for a more flexible stance, and demonstrated a
   lack of willingness to exert the necessary influence on the
   Palestinian delegation to bring about an internalization of the need
   for real compromise.

7. Any possible unilateral actions by the Palestinians in the wake of
   the Summit are unjustified and counterproductive. The ongoing
   relationship between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, and the
   conduct of negotiations between them, must be based upon mutual
   agreement and remain free of external pressure.
   In this regard, the parties declared in their statement at the end of
   the Summit:

   “The two sides understand the importance of avioding
   unilateral actions that prejudge the outcome of
   negotiations, and their therir differences will be resolved
   only by good faith negotiations”

8. Some Palestinian circles have intimated and even declared that
   they intend to resort to violence should the Camp David Summit fail.
   There is not justification for such a reaction, and Israel will do
   everything within its authority to maintain calm and prevent
   violence.