Military

DATE=09-16-03

TYPE=INTERVIEW

NUMBER=3-792

TITLE=ISRAEL/PALESTINIANS

BYLINE=DAVID BORGIDA

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

COINTENT=

INTRODUCTION

Mr. Matthew Hodes, Director of the Conflict Resolution Program at the Carter Center, discusses the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

MR. BORGIDA

Earlier today I spoke with Matthew Hodes to reflect on the political environment surrounding those [Camp David] Accords 25 years ago.

MR. HODES

Well, 25 years ago you had just finished, perhaps less than a year before, the historic visit of Anwar Sadat to Jerusalem. And at that moment there was this enormous momentum hopefully towards peace between the Egyptians and the Israelis. But over the course of the period of time from the fall of 1977 into 1978, the discussions became more protracted and more difficult. And so President Carter saw an opportunity to try and bring the parties together to once and for all deal with the underlying issues between the Egyptians and the Israelis.

MR. BORGIDA

The Israeli-Palestinian part of the equation, which is so difficult and so tense and so emotional now and for many years, was kind of off the table at the time, right?

MR. HODES

Well, we have to remember that at the time, in 1977-1978, we looked at the West Bank and Gaza somewhat differently. And while the Palestinians had their interests, at that point the Egyptians and the Jordanians and others had not completely relinquished their interest over what was happening in Gaza and the West Bank as well. And so you were still looking at state-to-state type negotiations as part of not only what was going on in the Sinai but comprehensively what was happening in the region.

MR. BORGIDA

Now, Mr. Carter himself, whom we will hear from on our program tomorrow, has taken on a role as a statesman in recent years. Tell us about that and how he has adjusted to that role and what he does.

MR. HODES

Well, President Carter, in the 20 years or so that the Carter Center has been in existence, has focused on trying to do whatever he can to try to -- what we describe as -- wage peace. That is, to look after those who are suffering the most, to deal with the grassroots problems, whether they have to do with health, whether they have to do with peace, whether it can be through a program on democracy, or whether it can be through a negotiation to the end of a conflict. And so he has thrown himself into these types of projects consistently since the end of his presidency.

MR. BORGIDA

And of course Anwar Sadat was assassinated not long after Camp David, correct?

MR. HODES

That's right.

MR. BORGIDA

His legacy was one also of a peacemaker.

MR. HODES

And I think a lot of that has to do with (a) the historic visit to Jerusalem and (b) his willingness to sit down at Camp David with President Carter and Begin and actually hammer out the details of what became the Camp David Accords.

MR. BORGIDA

As you look back on the process, I can only assume that those of you at the Carter Center look back with a degree of dismay over what still transpires and may likely continue to transpire; that is, continuing tension?

MR. HODES

The situation is quite sad. And it's interesting to note that even back in 1978, discussions about what would happen in the West Bank and Gaza were on the table. Part of the preparatory materials that President Carter used getting ready for Camp David talked about a more comprehensive settlement, including the interests of the Palestinians. And to see that we are still dealing with those issues today really is quite distressing.

MR. BORGIDA

Mr. Hodes, thanks for being with us. I appreciate it.

MR. HODES

Thank you.

MR. BORGIDA

And that was my interview, done earlier today, with Matthew Hodes. He is Director of the Conflict Resolution Program from the Carter Center, named obviously for Jimmy Carter.

(End of interview.)

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