PERES: He invited me, but I couldn’t have gone without the agreement of the prime minister. The meeting took place in Gaza. When you cross the border between Gaza and Israel, you enter an entirely different world. [Arafat] looked at me as if I were a stranger. The lack of understanding and empathy on both sides is complete and total. They think that we want to twist their hands by force and, in a cruel way, impose upon them our wishes. And we believe he tries through political maneuvers and violence to attain an advantage and that he is managing the situation almost coldbloodedly. Emotions have grown high. We have reached a point where we [both] might lose control over the situation, and this would be a total catastrophe… Arafat accused us of using helicopters and tanks excessively. I said the best thing is not to resort to the use of force… They are ready to return to the negotiating table.
Yes. After a three-hour talk we reached an agreement. [The next day] there would be parallel statements by Barak and Arafat [calling for a cessation of the violence]. Then there would be a couple of days of tranquillity… But the Palestinians did not make the announcement. I asked myself why. Then I understood. They published a statement, and Arafat appeared on television to say we had agreed to stop the violence. But he could not use the same language [as Barak]. We have received information that Arafat has started to give orders to his troops to stop the violence.
We know it was not done by Arafat. The Islamic Jihad is interested in killing the peace process.
I told him time is short. Barak made a strategic choice and entered into a one-month agreement with Shas [a religious party that agreed to temporarily support Barak’s government] instead of a safe agreement with the [conservative] Likud [Party] that would have given him a longer life expectancy. He did it because he prefers the possibility of peace.
From our point of view, it was generous. From theirs, to give up all future claims means they are forced to accept a peace inferior to that we negotiated with Egypt. They feel it is short of what is due to them, particularly on the issue of Jerusalem.
I think he will try to reach it by agreement.
Nonsense. What is the real alternative?
What do they suggest, blood? We can’t be in a permanent clash.
If tranquillity will prevail and the visits to Washington take place, there is a chance of a renewal of Camp David.
