The prime minister defines the
first phase as the "mapping stage." By holding exhaustive talks with
'Arafat, Clinton, and the US peace team, Baraq will attempt to identify all the
controversial issues left outstanding from Netanyahu's term. He will also seek to learn
the Palestinian, Syrian, and American demands in order to be able to clear the table and
show them where problems could arise as far as Baraq is concerned.
It is only natural that these talks will revolve around the Wye agreement, the fate of
the outposts established on the West Bank during the election campaign, and construction
in Jerusalem. Already at this stage, and perhaps already today, Baraq intends to propose
to 'Arafat to defer implementing various problematic details until the implementation of
the permanent arrangement. Baraq knows that this proposal will encounter Palestinian
opposition.
Therefore, he will suggest that in the event Israel and the Palestinian Authority [PA]
fail to reach agreement with regard to the permanent arrangement by an agreed-upon date,
then Israel will fully implement the Wye Agreement on that same predetermined date.
As for the Syrian track, Baraq will try to find a mutually acceptable formula that will
enable the resumption of the negotiations "at the point they were halted," and
perhaps also the possibility of reaching an understanding that will permit the temporary
calming of the situation in Lebanon.
At this stage, Baraq does not intend to present any detailed suggestions to his
interlocutors for resolving these issues. He will merely examine various alternative
"ideas" with them in order to hear their reactions. The "mapping
stage" will probably continue after Baraq returns from the United States, when the US
secretary of state leaves for the Middle East in order to start clarifying things,
especially with Syrian President al-Asad, on the basis of what she heard from Baraq in
Washington.
In the second stage, "the assessment stage," Baraq will convene
political and defense forums to consolidate a comprehensive situation assessment regarding
the continuation of the process. Afterwards, Baraq will form teams and entrust them with
finding solutions to the problems that are preventing the start of negotiations on the
permanent arrangement on both tracks.
At this stage, agreement will also apparently be reached on the teams and procedures
for handling the negotiations on the permanent arrangement. Baraq also plans to change the
negotiation methods. Contrary to the way things were conducted in the past, he does not
want to come with detailed Israeli proposals that will spur the other side to present
counterproposals, but rather to formulate agreed-upon solutions in long talks with the
Palestinians.
In the third stage, Baraq and his envoys will agree with the Palestinians on the
details of the implementation of the Wye agreement and on the method of handling the
negotiations on the permanent arrangement. A similar move will also be initiated on the
Syrian track, through the Americans.
In the fourth stage, "the stage of confidence-building measures,"
Israel will implement the Wye agreement and carry out additional steps according to what
is agreed upon. Immediately afterwards, (and perhaps even in parallel), discussions will
start on the permanent arrangement.
At the same time, Israel and Syria will publish the principles for renewing the
negotiations on the permanent arrangement, and this will be followed at once by the
resumption of the talks between Syria and Israel. Baraq will ask President Clinton to
promise a "security blanket" for the process with the Syrians; or, in other
words, to guarantee that al-Asad will receive economic and political aid immediately upon
the resumption of the talks."
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