NEWS

Israel Waiting For
An Arab Gesture

Despite some subtle positive signs,
Jerusalem's delegation to the peace talks
is frustrated.

But Arab leaders have not
matched the Israeli decision
to halt most settlement ac-
tivity
or release the Pales-
srael's well-publicized
tinian prisoners; there has
c onfidence-building
been no indication of any
gestures ("CBMs," in
willingness to lift the Arab
peace conference parlance)
boycott, the confidence
at the latest round of peace
building measure most crav-
talks here have not lessened
ed by the Israelis.
disagreement over fun-
"There has been a mood of
damental issues, like the na-
frustration and anger," said
ture of an interim agree-
an Israeli official after Mon-
ment for Palestinian self-
day's sessions. "There is no
rule. And they have not been
quid pro quo — but when one
met with equivalent
side makes serious gestures,
gestures on the part of Arab
there is an expectation that
leaders — something that is
there will be some kind of
adding a new element of
reciprocation. Instead, all
frustration and anger that
we're getting is the escala- -
could gridlock the month-
tion of rhetoric this week."
long round of talks.
Israeli negotiators were
But an observer here can
also disturbed by the Pales-
notice subtle changes taking
tinians apparent rejection of
place. For example, Israeli
the Israeli proposals for self-
negotiators no longer refer
rule, and by the Palestinians
to Judea and Samaria when
insistence on discussing the
referring to the occupied ter-
status of Jerusalem.
ritories in their sessions
"This was hardly very
with the Palestinians,
helpful or constructive,"
biblical terminology that is
said the Israeli official.
considered provocative. For
"Instead of moving forward,
the first time, they are refer-
there's a feeling this week
ring to the Palestinians by
that we're almost moving
that name, not by the ge-
backwards."
neric label "Arabs."
Already, the positive envi-
Israeli officials are now
ronment
of the current
giving off-the-record brief-
round of talks seems to be
ings to reporters from Arab
wearing thin as negotiators
newspapers — in Arabic. All
confront the fact that atmo-
Israeli press material is now
spherics are fine — but the
being printed in Arabic, as
real heart of the negotia-
well as English and Hebrew
tions involves the difficult
— another innovation for the
question of who is going to
current sessions.
give what.
This round of talks has
also been marked by infor-
The lack of reciprocation
- mal, limited contacts bet-
also reflects a. certain dis-
ween the Syrian and Israeli
array among Arab
embassies in Washington,
negotiators, according to
something many experts
Dan Mariaschin, director of
consider a key requirement
international and public af-
of serious, ongoing negotia-
fairs for B'nai B'rith.
tions.
"Based on my discussions
There have been some
with participants, my sense
small gestures from the
is that Arab negotiators
Arab side, as well.
have been put off balance by
For the first time since the
the rapid-fire series of Israeli
talks began in Madrid, the
proposals, unilateral actions At
Syrian press briefings are
and public pro-
now open to Israeli
nouncements," he said.
reporters, and Syrian
"Since Madrid, they've been
spokesmen are responding to
sitting on the sidelines wat-
their questions:
ching the Washington-
In public statements since
Jerusalem relationship
the opening of the talks,
worsen; now that the rela-
Syrian and Palestinian
tionship has once again
spokespeople have been
become a cordial one, they
unusually positive in their
find themselves in a very
assessments of the Israelis,
awkward position, with the
using words like "helpful"
burden for moving forward
and "serious."
squarely on their side." ❑

JAMES D. BESSER

Washington Correspondent

I

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