eded in order to spur on continued negotiations. He did not tell Barak that in order to start a basis for negotiation, Palestinians needed the following three things: First, Palestinians need a “sovereign presence in East Jerusalem, over which they have full control and can fly their flag…Second, they must at least share sovereignty with the Jewish people over the sacred space of the Temple Mount…And third, the Palestinians must have direct access from that sovereign Palestinian presence to both the mosques on the Temple Mount and to the Palestinian state in the West Bank, so that they do not have to go through Israeli checkpoints.” (Friedman, July 28) Why did he not suggest these things? There are many ideas as to why Arafat chose not to cooperate at Camp David this July. One group says that the Palestinians are not ready to enter into a formal agreement yet. Another says that Arafat knows he must begin to negotiate, but wanted to show his people that he was capable of denying Barak before he agreed. And a third says that Arafat has never before had to make a clear, irrevocable decision with a meaning as large as this one. To do this, he will first need the support of the Muslim world. (Friedman, July 28)This situation, so clearly marked by historical disagreements, conflicts, and wars, has yet been irreconcilable. The Camp David talks were the most recent effort to bring the two sides together to negotiate their differences, however, with much disappointment, the negotiations failed. Although territory has been the main issue between these warring nations, something much more heavily rooted within all of the citizens and leaders resides, preventing the achievement of a final, lasting peace. Perhaps this is inflexibility, or irrationality, but more likely, it is a result of thousands of years of animosity culminating in a seemingly impossible agreement. References:Binder, Leonard, eds. Ethinic Conflic...
