Military

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=ISRAEL / PALESTINIANS (L)

BYLINE=MEREDITH BUEL

DATELINE=JERUSALEM

INTERNET=YES

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak says peace is still possible in the Middle East, but warned Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat that nothing will be achieved by the wave of recent violence that has left about 150 people, mostly Palestinians, dead. VOA Correspondent Meredith Buel has details from Jersalem.

TEXT: Prime Minister Barak told a hostile session of the Israeli parliament that peace can be reached in the region, but not under the threat of violence. Mr. Barak told lawmakers that the window of opportunity for peace for the Palestinians is closing and warned President Yasser Arafatthat he will achieve nothing if clashes continue.

///Barak actuality (Hebrew) ///

The prime minister says Israel remains united against violence and negotiation should be conducted around a table and not in the streets, with shooting and stones. Mr. Barak indicated that if the fighting stops he would be willing to attend a meeting with President Clinton in Washington to discuss the peace process.

The prime minister defended his policies against hecklers from the hawkish opposition parties, who accused him of not being tough enough with the Palestinians. So far Mr. Barak has been unsuccessful in trying to form an emergency government with opposition leader Ariel Sharon. However Mr. Sharon, who spoke to the parliament after Mr. Barak, says he is still open to the idea if the details of a coalition agreement can be worked out.

Mr. Sharon has been seeking veto power over peace moves with the Palestinians and so far Mr. Barak has not agreed to that demand.

Mr. Barak currently has the backing of a small minority in parliament which convened for the first time since the Palestinian uprising began more than a month ago. The prime minister faces no confidence motions in parliament that could lead to early elections. Parliament speaker Abraham Borg says a new governing coalition would be much better for the country than new elections.

/// BORG ACT ///

Early elections is an awful solution, because it deteriorates us all. For a couple of months (there will be an) unbelieveable political whirlwind where everyone is against everybody else, at a time when what the nation needs now is a healing process of us with us, rather than us against us. Therefore if we have a national unity government, with no veto rights to Ariel Sharon on the peace process, I would say that's the least of the evils.

///END ACT //

Mr. Barak's coalition could survive for the time being because the ultra-Orthodox Shas party says it may not vote against the government, for now. Shas and other parties pulled out of the coalition last July because of concern Mr. Barak was offerring too many concessions during peace talks with the Palestinians. (Signed)

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