MIDDLE EAST: COLLAPSE OF PEACE TALKS REACTIONS
(26 Jul 2000) English/Nat XFA With the collapse of the Camp David summit, both Israeli Prime minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat are being seen by their people back home as heroes. Israeli and Palestinian newspapers blamed the failure of the summit on each other. Sovereignty over Jerusalem is the issue that broke up the talks. The historic and holy city of Jerusalem - the sticking point that broke up the marathon Camp David summit between Israeli and Palestinian leaders. Palestinians rejected an Israeli offer that would have given them control of parts of East Jerusalem. They said they wanted East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state. Newspapers were filled with headlines about the break up at the Camp David summit called to make peace between Israel and Palestine. On Wednesday Palestinians in East Jerusalem were adamant about what they wanted. SOUNDBITE: (English) "Jerusalem must be Arabic one hundred percent." SUPER CAPTION: Vox pop Others said they just wanted peace to be restored as soon as possible. SOUNDBITE: (English) "Without some kind of direction for peace we are going to be in trouble here and I don't want to see that because I have children in the army" SUPER CAPTION: Voxpop SOUNDBITE: (English) "It is not gonna be good because we gave what we came to give and they didn't take it so it is their fault and they don't understand peace properly." SUPER CAPTION: Vox pop In anticipation of violence following the breakdown of peace talks, Israeli soldiers have increased security at crossing points between Israel and Palestinian controlled areas. At the Bethlehem roadblock, Israeli soldiers and police checked hundreds of Palestinian workers crossing to their jobs in Israel. In Gaza Strip, Palestinians accused Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak and his government of not being serious about peace and said that they were ready for all options. Barak will to be greeted with an official ceremony when he returns later on Wednesday and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is to get a hero's welcome in Gaza City. Palestinian officials said they remain firm on their stance. SOUNDBITE: (English) "It is obviously that the issue of Jerusalem was the main obstacle. It seems also that the Israeli side is not aware of the importance of Jerusalem to the Palestinians, but not only to Palestinians but also the Muslims and Christians of the world because if the Israeli's were aware of this fact then the talks would not have failed." SUPER CAPTION: Ziad Abu Ziad, Palestinian Minister of state The Israeli Justice minister said there was still hope. SOUNDBITE: (English) "If there is a will on both sides, which I presume is the situation, we have to go on. We have to negotiate. We have to have informal and formal contacts with the Palestinians. We have to involve the Americans again in order to find a solution in the coming months." SUPER CAPTION: Yossi Beilin, Israeli Justice minister Officials said handling the political situation will be Barak's priority when he arrives in Israel on Wednesday. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
