Military

DATE=10/23/00

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=MIDEAST VIOLENCE / BRITAIN (L-ONLY)

NUMBER=2-268319

BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN

DATELINE=LONDON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Britain is calling on both Israel and the Palestinians to show restraint and resume peace talks. V-O-A Correspondent Laurie Kassman in London reports a top British foreign ministry official welcomed what he called the responsible position taken at this past weekend's Arab summit.

TEXT: The number two official in Britain's foreign ministry, Peter Hain, says he welcomes the Arab summit's support for the Middle East peace process. But he expresses alarm about the continuing Israeli-Palestinian clashes, which he says have resulted in five times more Palestinian deaths than Israeli casualties.

Mr. Hain told a news briefing of mostly Arab journalists that Israel and the Palestinians urgently need to curb the violence and the war of words and resume their peace talks.

/// HAIN ACT 1 ///

The biggest danger at the present time lies in unilateral initiatives by either the Israeli government or the Palestinian leadership. They must find ways of coming back together to negotiations. Otherwise both will suffer.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Hain compares the Israeli-Palestinian standoff to previous conflicts in South Africa and Northern Ireland that he says appeared on the brink of disaster before finally achieving peace.

/// OPT // HAIN ACT 2 ///

At times, when negotiations get very tense and events inflame passion, wars of words take place. I compare them to strong wars of words between Gerry Adams and David Trimble in Northern Ireland, between Nelson Mandela and President de Klerk in South Africa. But underneath all that, people have to get on with the role of peace and that's absolutely essential that they do so.

/// END OPT ACT ///

Mr. Hain says Britain is concerned about Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak's call for a "time out" from the peace process and suggestions that barriers could be built to isolate the Palestinians.

/// HAIN ACT 3 ///

I think the Israelis should be building bridges, not fences. And at this time above all, although Israeli security must be of great and uppermost importance to its government, it is important that we don't create more obstacles to the peace process.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Hain says Israel also needs to review its rules of engagement to avoid an excessive use of force in dealing with rock-throwing Palestinians youths.

Mr. Hain also warns Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat against cutting off the dialogue with Prime Minister Barak who, he says, offers the best hope for a peaceful settlement. (Signed)

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