(23 Oct 1998) English/Nat
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat agreed Friday on a breakthrough land-for-peace deal on the violence-scarred West Bank, the
culmination of marathon negotiations mediated by President Bill Clinton.
Under the deal, the Palestinians will eliminate anti-Israel provisions in their founding charter and the Israelis will free scores of alleged political prisoners, U.S. and Palestinian.
Israelis and Palestinians who participated in the talks, which ended as the sun rose over the secluded Chesapeake Bay retreat, praised the agreement as good for people on both sides of the lingering dispute.
VOICE-OVER:
It just may be the deal the world has awaited for months.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We are still working on these issues, including the Palestinian covenant issue and there has not been closure."
SUPER CAPTION: James Rubin, US State Dept spokesman
But as a flow of statements from the US State Department have indicated, the talking has gone on and on.
With persistent encouragement from President Clinton, Benjamin Netanyahu and Yasser Arafat have at last come to agreement over the West Bank.
But at the last minute, the signing was held up by a new Israeli demand.
Israel fears its security will be jeopardised.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Israel has its view that any solution to the West Bank question must leave Israel secure and must have a political entity that does not have powers that threaten Israel."
SUPER CAPTION: Dore Gold, Israeli ambassador to United Nations
Many Palestinians, for their part, put little faith in Israeli sincerity.
But they are grateful for Washington's support.
UPSOUND: (English)
"Then I should say that the credit should go to President Clinton and Secretary Albright for their determination, for their patience.";
SUPER CAPTION: Manwar Kanafani, Yasser Arafat's spokesman
The signing has been held up by an unexpected Israeli demand from the Americans, for the release of an Israeli-American spy.
Journalists await news of whether the deal will be signed.
President Clinton can be pleased with his efforts after his seventy-eight hours of talks.
Now the peace deal must be carried out.
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