CNN Interactive Chat Transcript - Matthew Chance

Matthew Chance: The latest peace negotiations in the Middle East

CNN Correspondent Matthew Chance has been covering the Middle East struggle for peace.

CNN Moderator: Welcome to CNN.com Newsroom, Matthew Chance.

Matthew Chance: It's been a day of intensive diplomatic activity in the Middle East with Yasser Arafat visiting Cairo to talk to Arab officials and with the Israeli Prime Minister sending his representative to Washington to talk with U.S. officials. I'd be happy to answer any questions you have

CNN Moderator: What is known about the discussions among the Arab officials?

Matthew Chance: What's known is that they appear to have rejected a key point of the U.S. proposal. In a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Arab League in Cairo which Arafat attended, they reaffirmed their stance that the issue of right of return of Palestinian refugees to Israel is "sacred." The matter has been contentious because the Palestinians want people who left their homes or were forced from their homes in 1948 to be able to return. But, the Israelis said they would never allow that because a big influx of Arabs would change the nature of the Israeli State. So, it's going to be interesting to see how Yasser Arafat can sit down to the negotiating table with Israel now unless there is flexibility.

CNN Moderator: Are there any signs that concessions are possible by either side regarding the refugees' right to return?

Matthew Chance: On the Israeli side they've said all along very clearly that the issue is non-negotiable. There is in Israel a Jewish majority and Israeli government said it wouldn't allow that to change. From the Palestinian side, there was talk of flexibility on the right of return, perhaps involving some kind of acknowledgement by Israel that these people had suffered in exchange for full sovereignty over areas of East Jerusalem. But now it appears that both sides have drawn a line in the sand if only for the purposes of future negotiations.

From INDIAN: How many refugees are supposed to return to Israel if Israel was to accept this proposal?

Matthew Chance: Well, it could run into the millions. Hundreds of thousands of people who left or were forced from their homes in the Arab-Israeli war in 1948. Many of them live in neighboring Arab countries, like Jordan, in refugee camps in neighboring countries like Lebanon and Jordan and because of the years that have passed, their number has increased. Whole generations of Palestinians living in camps and hoping, at some point, to be allowed to go back to their ancestral homes in Israel. The Palestinians say if there is to be a real peace between them and the Israelis, the grievances of these people have to be addressed.

From MagenDavid: Do you not think that these efforts are pointless seeing as Barak does not enjoy the Israeli public's support and is about to face the prospect of losing the upcoming elections? Do you believe he has the authority to make the kinds of far-reaching concessions that he is willing to make?

Matthew Chance: Well, its a matter of debate in Israeli society, but one thing is clear, Ehud Barak faces a Prime Ministerial election on February 6th and he badly needs to go to the electorate with some kind of peace deal that they can vote on. If there is a peace deal, that would be the time that the country voted on it. So, the test of public opinion will come then -- the real test of public opinion

From Democrab: How much support does Arafat have from the rest of the Arab world?

Matthew Chance: Well, Yasser Arafat is in a difficult position, which is in part, dependent on the rest of the Arab world because the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one with regional implication such as refugees and Middle Eastern security. The resolution to the conflict is also something that is going to affect Arab interests and commitments to that people in the region. That is why the Palestinian leadership says that any resolution must be one that has the backing of the Arab world at large. Going back to today, we have seen the foreign ministers of the Arab League effectively rule out concessions on the right of return for Palestinian refugees. And, that may mean that Yasser Arafat now has little room to maneuver.

CNN Moderator: With time becoming extremely short before President Clinton leaves office, is it logistically possible to complete and implement an agreement in a few weeks?

Matthew Chance: I think its going to be very difficult. Peace negotiations have been underway between the Palestinians and the Israelis for several years now. I don't think officials on either side--officials experienced in complex negotiations that are the norm here-- realistically believe that a final agreement can be negotiated and signed within the next few weeks. There are still wide differences between the Palestinians and the Israelis on key issues and even now we are seeing very little progress that would indicate how those differences are ever going to be resolved.

CNN Moderator: Do you have any final thoughts for us today?

Matthew Chance: I thank you all for your questions It's an extremely interesting period in the Middle East I urge you all to follow the events here as closely as you can

CNN Moderator: Thank you for joining us today, Matthew Chance.

Matthew Chance: Thank you.

Matthew Chance joined the chat room via telephone from Jerusalem and CNN.com provided a typist. The above is an edited transcript of the interview on Thursday, January 04, 2001.

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