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PEACE TALKS page 10
cial recently. "We see Hus-
seini as someone who can re-
inforce the delegation."
Israeli negotiators came to
this week's talks with a re-
vised package of proposals on
interim self-rule for the
Palestinians, including pro-
posals for local elections, a
Palestinian police force and
for enhanced human rights
protection for residents of the
West Bank and Gaza. They
were also prepared to allow
the return of more than 30
Palestinians deported before
the recent mass expulsion.
The Israelis are also using
the current round, which is
expected to last for two
weeks, to press for continu-
ous negotiations.
"We are convinced that if
all sides could be forthcom-
The biggest
question mark
hovering over the
talks is concern
over the role of
the Clinton White
House.
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4/30/93
ing, then separate rounds of
talks with long breaks could
be replaced by continuous,
ongoing negotiations, with-
out interruptions," said Mr.
Gal, the press spokesman.
"The time has come to stop
counting rounds, and start
tallying the results of the ne-
gotiations."
The biggest question mark
hovering over the opening of
the ninth round of talks in-
volved the evolving American
role.
Mr. Christopher has
caused some uneasiness
among pro-Israel forces with
his insistence that the U.S. is
now a "full partner" in the ne-
gotiations. The concern is
that the Arab parties will
want the U.S. to push Israel
into making further conces-
sions, rather than offering
compromises on their own.
But most pro-Israel lead-
ers concede the necessity of a
more active American role in
offering new ideas and "bridg-
ing proposals" to help move
the talks beyond procedural
roadblocks.
Some observers even wor-
ry that the administration is
not going far enough in in-
jecting itself into the talks.
"The term 'full partnership'
has been used by the presi-
dent and the secretary," said
Judith Kipper, a Mideast spe-
cialist at the Brookings In-
stittition. "But apparently
that does not include media-
tion, bridging proposals or be-
ing present at the talks. So
I'd like to know what it does
mean."
Direct talks, without a vig-
orous American presence, will
not work "because Arabs and
Israelis see negotiations as a
zero sum game," she said.
"They have only been able to
make concessions to the Unit-
ed States, or through the
United States."
But so far, there are few in-
dications that the Clinton
administration is interested
in accepting a mediation role.
In fact, it is unclear exactly
what role the administration
will pursue now that the ne-
gotiators are back at the
table.
According to several ad-
ministration sources, the
peace process team at the
State Department focused
heavily on getting the parties
back to Washington — but
now that the talks have re-
sumed, there is no clear plan
for what the American role
will be in the days to come.
And there are concerns
that the administration,
stretched thin by the harder-
than-expected battle over the
president's economic package
in Congress and by the
prospect of a risky American
military intervention in
Bosnia, may not have the re-
sources to play a more active
role in the Mideast peace
process. ❑
)
Official Warns
On Iran Bomb
Jerusalem (JTA) — A top
Israeli defense official called
on the international com-
munity this week to take ac-
tion to prevent nuclear
technology and know-how
from reaching Iran.
Reserve Gen. David Ivri,
director-general of the
Defense Ministry and a
-former commander of the air
force, said some steps were
already being taken but that
they were not enough.
Speaking on Israel Radio,
Gen. Ivri said Israel was by
no means the only state in
the region gravely concerned
by the threat of Iran attain-
ing nuclear capacity.
Egypt, Gen. Ivri said, is
worried as well, as indeed is
the American government.
Gen. Ivri said he could not
see Israeli-Egyptian coop-
eration in this area in the
foreseeable future, and that
it would not be fair of Israel
to seek such cooperation.
Israel and Egypt are ac-
ting separately in this
matter as they each see fit,
he said.
)