The majority of Arab countries, the US and Europe welcomed the victory of Barak in the Israeli elections. Spokesman to the White House said the US President hopes that Israelis and Palestinians will move faster in the peace process after Barak's winning. He added that Clinton believes that the majority of Palestinians and Israelis have chosen the peace path and that all parties must grasp this opportunity, hoping that both parties will move faster towards a permanent solution.
An official source in Egypt said the Egyptian President Mubarak sent yesterday a cable congratulating Barak on his victory. The source said the Egyptian Foreign Minister Amro Musa said Egypt needs to see real serious steps to prove the intentions.
Meanwhile, informed sources predicted the holding of a summit at the White House soon to include US President Bill Clinton, Palestinian President Arafat, the newly elected PM of Israel Barak, and that Mubarak and King Abdallah of Jordan might join this summit to consider means of activating the peace process. [Al-Quds & Al-Ayyam Newpapers May 19]
Palestinians expressed relief that Netanyahu lost the elections while they expressed cautious welcoming to the victory of Barak. The first statements by Barak after the results were declared caused Palestinian resentment, thus reinforcing their caution of the difficulties in dealing with the final-status issues.
Palestinian head negotiator Saeb Erekat described Barak's conditions as "a regretful start". Erekat said the PA rejects the conditions of the new Israeli PM Barak. He said the Palestinian side was hoping to hear what Barak is planning to do to revive the peace process and not the things he would not do. The results of the Israeli elections was a message of peace and a clear message that the tone of dictations and imposing facts by force were rejected by the Israeli elections. On the issue of the current settlement activities, Erekat said the Palestinian side demands immediate US intervention to stop the current activities in Abu Ghneim and Ras Al-Amud.
The Palestinian leadership issued a statement at the end of its meeting yesterday in Gaza welcoming the important political results of the Israeli elections which carry important positive indicators on the desire of the Israeli public who expressed rejection to the policy of extremism and insisted on moving ahead in the peace process; the statement said the Palestinian leadership is looking forward to see the peace process revived again and resuming negotiations and implementing the signed agreements.
PLC Speaker Ahmad Qrei' said yesterday that the new Israeli government must declare its position on 4 issues to bring the peace process back on the right track; Qrei' said: If Barak initiates to declare the position on these issues, this will give clear positive indicators to the PCC which will meet next month; the Israeli positions will have positive impact on the PCC decisions. The four points are:
The newly elected prime minister of Israel Ehud Barak outlined yesterday his conditions to resume the frozen peace process in the Middle East, following his strong victory on Netanyahu. He also started his consultations with leaders of the various parties to form the new government. In the presence of thousands of Israelis at Rabin Square, Barak promised yesterday to resume quickly the negotiations with the Palestinians, but added four conditions: Jerusalem will remain unified; we will not go back to the 1967 borders; there won't be a foreign army stationed west of the Jordan River; most of the settlements in Gaza and the West Bank will remain under Israeli rule. Barak called for unity in Israel. He said he will follow the path of the late Rabin. [Al-Quds & Al-Ayyam Newpapers May 19]