Photo by Brian Hendler/JTA
TALKS AIM FOR PACT THAT ISRAEL AND PALESTINIANS MAY YET REJECT.
DAVID LANDAU
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
.
ill the Israeli people
approve the peace agree-
ment now apparently
evolving between their
prime minister, Ehud Barak, and
Palestinian Authority President Yasser
Arafat?
The impact of the envisioned
changes, not only on the lives of
Jerusalemites but on all Israelis, are so
vast and unprecedented that the tools
Jerusalem
W
of political prediction may be entirely
inadequate.
The agreement, encapsulated in a
package of compromise ideas laid out
over the weekend by U.S. President
Bill Clinton, aims to resolve some of
the thorniest issues in the Israeli-
Palestinian negotiations, including
Jerusalem, borders, refugees and settle-
ments.
The agreement would divide control
of Jerusalem based on Jewish and Arab
populations, with Israel ceding sover-
eignty over the Temple Mount to the
Palestinians. In addition, a Palestinian
state would be created on some 95
percent of the territory of the West
Bank and Gaza Strip, with Israel giv-
ing the Palestinians additional land
alongside Gaza in the Negev Desert.
In exchange, Israel would annex _
land adjoining its 1967 border with
the West Bank. Most of the post-1967
Jewish settlements have been built in
these areas.
The Palestinian refugees, in turn,
would be absorbed into other Arab
countries, resettled in the Palestinian-
ruled areas, or given financial compen-
sation. In addition. Israel would con-
sider limited return within the pre-
1967 borders.
Washington Meeting
While the Israeli government appearec
inclined to accept the ideas in princi-
ple — Barak and his close aides have
been openly pressuring uncertain
Cabinet ministers to back the deal —
the Palestinians seemed more hesitant
The leadership faced powerful resis
ance to the proposals from the refuge
community, especially in the camps it
the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.
The international community, war