DATE=10/15/00
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=PREPARING FOR SUMMIT (L-ONLY)
BYLINE ED WARNER
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: On the Sunday American television news shows, top Israeli and Palestinian officials angrily blamed each other for the violence that broke off the peace talks, but cautiously added that Monday's summit meeting could revive them -- under the right circumstances. U-S officials also expressed guarded optimism about the emergency meeting at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. VOA's Ed Warner reports the discussion.
TEXT: It may take weeks, months or years, said U-S National Security Adviser Samuel Berger, but the peace process must resume. The alternative, he noted on NBC's "Meet the Press," is the violence we have witnessed.
He added nobody should be singled out for blame:
// BERGER ACT //
I don't think it is useful for me as we head off to this meeting in an effort to try to defuse the situation to allocate or ascribe responsibility. I think it is incumbent on Chairman Arafat to do everything in his power to try to stop the violence. He does not control everything, but I believe there is more he can do.
// End Act //
On ABC's "This Week," Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak did blame Mr. Arafat, saying the Palestinian leader is responsible for the violence because he ordered the Palestinian demonstrations. He did not blame Israeli opposition party leader Ariel Sharon for provoking the Palestinians, by entering Jerusalem's holy sites with Israeli troops.
Mr. Barak stressed the concessions Israel had been willing to make at Camp David and did not rule them out, in a resumption of the peace process:
// BARAK ACT //
It is no secret that the imprint of the last few weeks might leave some scars on the collective psyches of Israelis as well as Palestinians. It will not be easy to resume it, but I am confident that somehow ultimately it will be resumed, but we will never yield to violence and we will stand firm and united to the extent possible defending our basic rights.
// END ACT //
But on "This week," Ariel Sharon" said Mr. Barak's concessions must be reviewed, if not discarded:
// SHARON ACT //
I do not see any possibility to divide Jerusalem. Jerusalem is the holiest city of the Jewish people. Jerusalem is mentioned more than six hundred times in the Bible. Everyone knows that.
// END ACT //
Mr. Sharon said he would not join a coalition government that would accept the division of Jerusalem.
Chief Palestinian Negotiator Saeb Arakat responded that he cannot accept Mr. Sharon:
// ARAKAT ACT //
If General Sharon is going to be Barak's partner, I can tell you we no longer have a partner in Israel. Sharon is death to the peace process. If he brings Sharon to his cabinet, Israelis and Palestinians will be losers for a long time to come.
// END ACT //
Mr. Arakat said Israelis and Palestinians have everything to gain from the peace process and had made impressive progress before the outbreak of violence. (signed)
NEB/EW/FC
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