Press Conference with Prime Minister Netanyahu on the Hebron Accord

Before the signing of the Hebron agreement, the Prime Minister explained in a press conference the key elements of the emerging agreement. Although it was not yet approved by the cabinet, the Prime Minister explained the nature of the American position regarding future redeployments. The main point was that Israeli security interests will be maintained. He said that on the matter of future redeployment there will be no negotiations with the Palestinians. He hoped to start the final status negotiations within two months. Text:

Question: My question is, Mr. Prime Minister, Id like you to put this in a historic context. This is the first agreement between the Likud and the PLO. The first time the Likud is giving up territory in the West Bank. How do you see this as a crossroads for the Likud party? Second, theres some concern in the world that after this agreement, theres going to be a whole wave of settlement expansion as you seek to compensate some members of your coalition. Can you put these fears to rest?

Prime Minister Netanyahu: Ive said that its not the Likud thats changed, its the reality that is changed. Weve found, on the eve of the elections, a different reality, facts on the ground that were created by the previous government, and agreements that were reached by the previous government. We said that we would honor these agreements, providing of course, the other side honors them as well, and we recognize the facts. We cannot put our head in the sand and say, well, theyre not in Kalkilya, or the Palestinian Authority is not in Jericho, and so on. We have sought, as we promised, to fashion a different reality and a different outcome from these distressing conditions. I think the Hebron Agreement proves that that is possible, because we modified it, or rather modified it through implementation, through the details, to be a safer and better agreement. And I think the post-Hebron agreement, in particular, where we, I think, received degrees of freedom of negotiation that were not present there before, proves that we can achieve a better result towards the end. So I wouldnt go through this line that is now very fashionable the end of the Likud, the end of ideology. Leadership always is the meeting ground between vision and reality. Between ideology and practicality. It is not something that is new in the world. Its not something that is new to us.

But the second question, about a wave of settlement expansion.

We have a declared policy on the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria. We have said that we would enable them to grow and prosper. We have not said that we would build additional settlements. We have said that we would consider that if the issue became appropriate.

Question: Prime Minister, could you be a little bit more precise about the further redeployment because you say its a pure Israeli decision, and in a way this is the position of the United States, so if it is an Israeli decision, could you explain to us what are more or less the intentions about the first, second and third stage?

Prime Minister Netanyahu: Now, let me ask you. If you want me to say to you things that I havent yet discussed with my Cabinet, I am sure youll give me the opportunity to go through the Cabinet first, and youll be here, right? Well be able to tell you. Dont worry.

Question: Prime Minister, given that the United States has sent this letter saying that this is an Israeli decision which is not to be the product of negotiation, is it even conceivable that the Palestinians would sign a protocol on the first, or second or third stage of the further redeployment without their being a party to deciding the extent of the withdrawal in each case?

Prime Minister Netanyahu: I didnt tell you that this was a Palestinian position. I said it was an Israeli position, and as you can see, it is also an American position. I think that we will proceed with the redeployments in a sensible way. I think their character would obviously change. The first would be different from the second, and the third would be different from the second as well. So I think that its imminently possible, and according to the agreement, this is what is going to happen to have an Israeli redeployment and to do it in an orderly fashion, in a peaceful fashion. This is what we intend to do.

Question: Mr. Prime Minister, what happens to what were supposed to be some of the key Israeli goals in the talks, such as hot pursuit and the extradition of terrorists captured by the Palestinians? Can you discuss in English, as you did in Hebrew, your feelings toward Arafat. Is he your partner? Do you share common goals and plans now?

Prime Minister Netanyahu: Hot pursuit is a sub-issue. Its a specific instance of a generic issue, and the generic issue is the freedom of action of Israel to protect its citizens wherever they are. And against whatever threats emanate from anywhere. This right was guaranteed in the Oslo Accord for Israel. The principal problem that we found in the Hebron negotiations is that it wasnt clear that it applied to Hebron. It wasnt clear that it applied to Hebron because Hebron was designated as a special case, as a kind of extra-territorial zone that one could argue that this right doesnt apply. We spent many weeks in the negotiations until we agreed with the Palestinians to incorporate those provisions of Israels overall security rights and its right to take whatever measures necessary to defend its citizens. Until that was incorporated, we had a big argument. Once it was incorporated we were satisfied that we had the necessary rights to protect our people, including hot pursuit if that becomes necessary.

Question: Extradition and your feelings toward Arafat.

Prime Minister Netanyahu: The issue of extradition is covered in a note for the record as one of the responsibilities of the Palestinians in the form of the reciprocal commitments that both sides commit to each other.

As far as my relation to Arafat, he is the Head of the Palestinian Authority, with whom we are negotiating, and with whom I am negotiating. I think that while personal relations are important in any relationship, in any political relationship, this is first of all a relationship between two peoples, and what guides us, each in his own way, is to advance the interests of his people. What should guide us is also an understanding that in the interest of both peoples is the achievement of a durable, secure, and lasting peace. This is what I will seek to achieve in the coming months as I negotiated with him, and, as one would hope, with other Arab leaders as well.

Question: Mr. Prime Minister, this is Ali Kadar from ABC News. You said earlier in Hebrew that the coming three stages of withdrawal will be exclusive Israeli decisions, without negotiations. So, are you announcing that there is no need for negotiations with the Palestinians?

Prime Minister Netanyahu: Its written in the agreement. Precisely.

Question: So thats it? No negotiations?

Prime Minister Netanyahu: No, no. No negotiations on the redeployments, on the further redeployments, but there are plenty of negotiations. They are designated in fact in the note for the record, in the mutual obligations. There are about six areas that Israel and the Palestinian Authority are going to enter into immediate and parallel negotiations with each other. Were committed to this, and were going to negotiate in good faith in a fair way, to achieve a fair result for both Israel and the Palestinians.

Question: What about this idea about...

Prime Minister Netanyahu: Im sorry. This is in addition to a parallel negotiation that will begin in two months as to the final status arrangements. So, there will be plenty of negotiations. Look, not that I dont like negotiations. They last through the night, and sometimes into the early hours of the morning. Were prepared to negotiate anywhere and at any time to achieve peace, but the agreement clearly says that on the FRDs, Israel redeploys on its own.

Question: Was it your idea to sign the agreement through a fax?

Prime Minister Netanyahu: Through a fax? No. We signed the agreement with our representatives in Erez.

Question: Mr. Prime Minister, you say youre committed to the continuation of the Oslo process, but with all the trouble that you already have now, in this agreement, in your cabinet and among coalition Knesset members, are you so sure youll be able to do that?

Prime Minister Netanyahu: I am confident that I can do it. I think the coalition is much more stable than people think. And remember, there are two interesting misperceptions. One comes actually from the Palestinian side, and I often hear it echoed from the press. They say: the Palestinians dont trust you to complete Oslo because you are not committed to a Palestinian state with all that that entails.

Right. I represent Israel. I come to a final settlement negotiation that Oslo allows and permits me to do with my own conception. Oslo is not a guaranteed result of a final settlement, of an Israeli persuasion, or a Palestinian persuasion. It is merely a process. I am committed to the process. I will bring my own ideas, my governments ideas to a final settlement. And I hope that the final settlement will be one that is close to what we suggest. Usually each side comes with their own position, and they end up with something different in the end of the day, possibly even better than what theyd come up with originally.

The second perception comes from the Israeli members of my coalition, who are critical and they say: well, Oslo means that same thing, Oslo means a Palestinian state. It doesnt mean that. It means that we can negotiate for our positions, and I think weve proven in the past few weeks that we can negotiate very well fairly and firmly.

Source: Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs