- Did you get the
sense that this administration is preparing a Peace Plan?
We touched upon this in our
conversation.They are going in such direction and are waiting
for the right time to pitch a set of ideas
or a plan for a comprehensive Israeli-Palestinian
settlement.
- Could this plan come before the end of the
year?
They did not specify what a reasonable time
line meant, but having such a plan before the end of the
year is something I think is a real possibility.
JK: The
time frame has already begun George Mitchell is deeply engaged. The president is
engaged. And important meetings will take place next week. I think that ove r
the next year it is critical for us to have a legitimate
process, well understood and well underway. Over the next year it
must get going in a very legitimate and tangible way.
SECRETARY CLINTON: We are going to be putting forward very specific proposals
to the Israelis and the Palestinians. That’s what Senator
Mitchell has been doing over the last several days. I will be meeting with
President Abbas and his delegation tonight. We’ve also been reaching out to
governments of Arab nations asking what they could be expected to do as we move
forward to build confidence and to create a good atmosphere for decisions to be
made.
But I’m not going to negotiate in public. We are making a
very concerted effort. We have a well thought-out
approach that we are pursuing. We have a lot of support from
countries such as Egypt. But ultimately, this is up to the two=2 0parties.
Israel and the Palestinians have to decide that they will take a commitment
toward a resolution of their outstanding concerns. And the international
community, led by the United States, will be very supportive of
that.