Word: gaza
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Nobody harbors the illusion that the summit will produce a comprehensive settlement on the Middle East. For the moment, after all, the critical issues that separate the Israelis and the Arabs-the future of the West Bank and Gaza and of the Palestinians -are as unresolved as ever. So the objective at Camp David will be to make some measurable progress on the outstanding questions and, most important, to reach an agreement to keep the negotiating process alive...
...Israelis responded to the Arabs' gratitude by sending newly appointed Foreign Minister Moshe Dayan on a round of secret visits to Middle Eastern capitals. Premier Menachem Begin had come to power a month earlier vowing that Israel would retain the West Bank and Gaza, Arab lands captured during the Six-Day War of 1967. Nonetheless, the fact that he had agreed to warn Sadat, and the other moderate Arab leaders of impending danger, gave them the feeling that Begin had the stature and the courage to make significant concessions in peace negotiations...
Dayan also offered significant concessions on the West Bank and Gaza. Israel would agree to a declaration of principles involving the future of these occupied territories and the 1.1 million Palestinians living there. He said that Israel would agree not to annex those areas, not to establish any more settlements there once a joint declaration had been achieved, and to maintain only enough military force there for its own security. He added that the Begin government would be prepared to accept a West Bank administration composed of Israeli and Jordanian representatives and local Palestinians...
Peres: I disagree with the Israeli government's attitude. The declaration of principles might even bring Jordan's King Hussein into the peace negotiations. If I were in power, I would tactically conclude first the declaration of principles about the future of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Afterward I would conclude the negotiations on Sinai. I do not believe we can reach agreement with the Egyptians on Sinai without having reached an agreement in principle on the future of the West Bank and Gaza. The next step would be to announce our preference for a territorial compromise that...
Dayan: I am not worried about the possibility that the Egyptians do not want to make any move, but I am worried about the main question of whether they are in a position to make a peace over the West Bank and Gaza. Sadat says the Palestinian issue is the heart of the problem. But in that case, he has to have King Hussein and the Palestinian Arabs sitting with him in his delegation. From what I hear and know, King Hussein is very reluctant to come into negotiations without Syria. And [Syrian President Hafez]Assad is saying "I cannot...