That price will be getting Barak to forswear some of the tentative concessions made at Camp David. Pressure will also mount on Arafat to unilaterally declare a Palestinian state in September, a move that could trigger a deterioration of relations between the two sides and even a resort to violence. It was therefore very important that President Clinton yesterday called on all parties to avoid unilateral actions, thereby signaling to Arafat that the United States will not recognize a Palestinian state if it is not the product of negotiations. There is no alternative to negotiations but a bleak future for both Israelis and Palestinians. Geography is stubborn, and no one can choose his neighbors.
Negotiation requires both compromise and leadership.
Arafat should realize that leaders need to lead and not follow. All rights reserved.