This morning saw a dramatic development at Camp David. One hour after the White House officially announced the failure of the Camp David summit, Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian Authority chair Yasser Arafat decided to continue to summit talks under the auspices of Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. They will await the return of President Clinton from Okinawa and the resumption of his personal involvement in the conference, probably next Monday.
Israeli sources assess that, until Clinton again involves himself in the talks, no breakthrough or new initiatives can expected.
Israeli sources told "Globes" this morning that the revival of the summit will enable the President to discuss with the G-8 leaders the need to accompany any potential peace accord with several billion dollars worth of donations. Failure would render the subject irrelevant.
The US media this morning described the Camp David summit as "a summit back from the realm of the dead."
Prime Minister Ehud Barak explained that he decided to remain at Camp David out of his regard for Clinton's efforts to bring about a breakthrough in the negotiations.
Barak this morning held telephone conversation with Ministers Haim Ramon and Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, and with MKs Eli Yishai and Yossi Sarid. He expressed pessimism for the chance of a breakthrough.
He stressed that he did not intend to give in to "unreasonable" Palestinian demands, and that he would insist on a peace agreement that would enhance Israel's security.
MK Eli Yishai said, after his telephone conversation with the Prime Minister, that it seemed to him that there was a slight chance of a breakthrough.
"The Prime Minister decided to remain in Camp David with the object of fully utilizing the chance of achieving a settlement," a senior Israeli source emphasized.
MK Ahmad Tibi, who is continually in touch with Arafat, said today that Arafat would not consent to waive his demand for full Palestinian sovereignty over east Jerusalem.
Published by Israel's Business Arena on 20 July 2000