AJC Welcomes Wye Summit Agreement As A Victory For Both Sides, A Victory For Peace

American Jewish Committee
Friday, 23 October 1998

The American Jewish Committee welcomes today's signing of an interim land-for-peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Despite the difficulties the parties faced in reaching this accord, it is a crucial step forward in the Arab-Israeli peace process. The agreement concluded today is a victory for both sides, a victory for peace.

This agreement is also a clear victory for American interests in the Middle East and around the world, achieved through tenacious mediation by President Clinton. We extend our gratitude to the President for his persistence and patience in helping Israel and the Palestinians overcome obstacles to progress, and we congratulate the President, Vice President Gore, Secretary Albright, National Security Adviser Berger, Ambassadors Indyk and Ross, CIA Director Tenet, and the entire American peace team for this important achievement. We express our appreciation, as well, for the contributions of His Majesty King Hussein, who inspired and worked with all parties to conclude these interim negotiations.

Tough bargaining lies ahead as the peace process moves forward. Just as there have been obstacles in the five years since Oslo, there will be obstacles both parties will face in the coming final status talks, as they confront the hardest issues of permanent borders, settlements, refugees, Palestinian political status, and Jerusalem. Faithful implementation of this latest agreement Ñ including long-delayed steps the Palestinian leadership must take to revise the Palestinian charter and address Israel's security concerns Ñ will prepare the way for this next, and decisive, phase of negotiations.

But the Wye Summit itself represents a considerable achievement. It proves wrong the assumptions of Israel's critics Ñ in the Arab world and Western Europe, especially Ñ that Prime Minister Netanyahu intended to end the Oslo process; in fact, through this hard-fought agreement, the Prime Minister has given the process new strength. And this agreement demonstrates once again America's irreplaceable leadership in international affairs.

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