Barak Tells AJC Committee's Congressional Delegation Of His Plans To Implement Wye And Move To Final Status Talks

American Jewish Committee
Monday, 23 August 1999

Prime Minister Ehud Barak thanked visiting members of the U.S. Congress last night for America's support for Israel as it takes risks for peace and pledged to continue employing that support to strengthen Middle East security, confront the "leakage" of non-conventional weapons technology to rogue states, encourage democratic values in the region, and combat terrorism.

The hour-long meeting at the Defense Ministry was the first stop for Reps. Gene Green, D-Texas; Rush D. Holt, D-New Jersey; Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio; Karen McCarthy, D-Missouri; and Dennis Moore, D-Kansas, who are visiting Israel through the American Jewish Committee's Project Interchange. The delegation arrived here Sunday evening and will leave the country on August 29.

The Prime Minister, delaying the start of his vacation to meet with the delegation, expressed his commitment to reaching early agreement with the Palestinians on implementation of the Wye River accord - preferably with a "stretched" timetable but a better long-term chance of success - and then promptly opening final status negotiations. His intention, he said, is "to strengthen Israel through making peace with our neighbors."

He said that while the "formula" has not yet been found to restart negotiations with Syria, he expects to resolve present difficulties and renew talks with Damascus on the status of the Golan - talks that he linked to his commitment to withdraw Israeli troops from the southern Lebanon security zone "in ten and a half months."

He observed that the forthcoming Middle East and North Africa visit of Secretary of State Madeleine Albright will demonstrate to the people of the region America's support for continuation of direct bilateral negotiations between Israel and its neighbors.

Barak also spoke and answered questions on several final status issues.

On the issue of Palestinian refugees, he recognized their dilemma but said there is no place in Israel for such refugees, and other solutions must be found, including absorption in Arab lands. He noted Israel had absorbed hundreds of thousands of Jews forced to flee Arab states after 1948.

On the region's water situation, the Prime Minister cited the need for a long-term increase in resources, through such means as desalination and possible water pipelines from Turkey.

Barak asserted unequivocally that "Jerusalem should be kept undivided and our capital forever." He added that in final status negotiations with the Palestinians "maybe some creative ideas [on Jerusalem] will emerge that will not compromise our positions in any way."

The Prime Minister noted the problems posed by ongoing political and economic uncertainty in Russia and urged the U.S. lawmakers to continue to speak out forcefully and insist on Russian action to counter the recent upsurge in anti-Semitism.

Project Interchange, an institute of the American Jewish Committee, sponsors intensive seminars in Israel for hundreds of influential Americans each year, including members of Congress, congressional staff, local and state officials, ethnic and religious leaders, journalists and other opinion-makers.

The American Jewish Committee, with an office in Jerusalem, defends the interests of the Jewish community in America and around the world. Founded in 1906, it has more than 100,000 members and supporters across the United States served by offices in 32 U.S. cities and 10 overseas posts.

Joining the congressional meeting with Prime Minister Barak was AJC Executive Director David A. Harris, who today concludes a one-week visit with other AJC leaders to Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Jordan, and Yossi Alpher, director of AJC's Israel/Middle East Office in Jerusalem.

Accompanying the congressional delegation during this week's Israel visit are Jason F. Isaacson, AJC Director of Government and International Affairs, and Thomas S. Kahn, Vice President of AJC/Project Interchange and Minority Staff Director of the House Budget Committee.

Barak Tells Ajcommittee's Congressional Delegation Of His Plans To Implement Wye And Move To Final Status Talks

TEL AVIV, August 23, 1999….Prime Minister Ehud Barak thanked visiting members of the U.S. Congress last night for America's support for Israel as it takes risks for peace and pledged to continue employing that support to strengthen Middle East security, confront the "leakage" of non-conventional weapons technology to rogue states, encourage democratic values in the region, and combat terrorism.

The hour-long meeting at the Defense Ministry was the first stop for Reps. Gene Green, D-Texas; Rush D. Holt, D-New Jersey; Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio; Karen McCarthy, D-Missouri; and Dennis Moore, D-Kansas, who are visiting Israel through the American Jewish Committee's Project Interchange. The delegation arrived here Sunday evening and will leave the country on August 29.

The Prime Minister, delaying the start of his vacation to meet with the delegation, expressed his commitment to reaching early agreement with the Palestinians on implementation of the Wye River accord - preferably with a "stretched" timetable but a better long-term chance of success - and then promptly opening final status negotiations. His intention, he said, is "to strengthen Israel through making peace with our neighbors."

He said that while the "formula" has not yet been found to restart negotiations with Syria, he expects to resolve present difficulties and renew talks with Damascus on the status of the Golan - talks that he linked to his commitment to withdraw Israeli troops from the southern Lebanon security zone "in ten and a half months."

He observed that the forthcoming Middle East and North Africa visit of Secretary of State Madeleine Albright will demonstrate to the people of the region America's support for continuation of direct bilateral negotiations between Israel and its neighbors.

Barak also spoke and answered questions on several final status issues.

On the issue of Palestinian refugees, he recognized their dilemma but said there is no place in Israel for such refugees, and other solutions must be found, including absorption in Arab lands. He noted Israel had absorbed hundreds of thousands of Jews forced to flee Arab states after 1948.

On the region's water situation, the Prime Minister cited the need for a long-term increase in resources, through such means as desalination and possible water pipelines from Turkey.

Barak asserted unequivocally that "Jerusalem should be kept undivided and our capital forever." He added that in final status negotiations with the Palestinians "maybe some creative ideas [on Jerusalem] will emerge that will not compromise our positions in any way."

The Prime Minister noted the problems posed by ongoing political and economic uncertainty in Russia and urged the U.S. lawmakers to continue to speak out forcefully and insist on Russian action to counter the recent upsurge in anti-Semitism.

Project Interchange, an institute of the American Jewish Committee, sponsors intensive seminars in Israel for hundreds of influential Americans each year, including members of Congress, congressional staff, local and state officials, ethnic and religious leaders, journalists and other opinion-makers.

The American Jewish Committee, with an office in Jerusalem, defends the interests of the Jewish community in America and around the world. Founded in 1906, it has more than 100,000 members and supporters across the United States served by offices in 32 U.S. cities and 10 overseas posts.

Joining the congressional meeting with Prime Minister Barak was AJC Executive Director David A. Harris, who today concludes a one-week visit with other AJC leaders to Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Jordan, and Yossi Alpher, director of AJC's Israel/Middle East Office in Jerusalem.

Accompanying the congressional delegation during this week's Israel visit are Jason F. Isaacson, AJC Director of Government and International Affairs, and Thomas S. Kahn, Vice President of AJC/Project Interchange and Minority Staff Director of the House Budget Committee.

For more information, or to contact American Jewish Committee, see their website at: www.ajc.org