On Negotiations

General Comment: For Peres negotiations are the categorical imperative. They are to be 
pursued under any and all circumstances.
}~ I think there is no doubt in the hearts of any of the parties which are today negotiating in 
the Middle East about the need for a world coalition for peace that will comprise the United 
States, a United Europe, Russia and, if possible the Egyptians and the Jordanians, where the 
United States can really bring them together in an agreeable manner. (Peres' statement at a 
news conference with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, released by Israel Government Press 
Office, June 17, 2001)
COMMENT: The Palestinian Authority would doubtless love such a coalition.
}~ [After Israel moved into areas of Beit Jallah used to shell the neighboring Israeli 
community of Gilo, part of Jerusalem] If we don't leave under fire we will never leave. (Israel 
Television Channel One, August 30, 2001)
COMMENT: A backhanded acknowledgment that Arafat has no intention of stopping the 
violence.
}~ [Speaking of those who wanted a pause in peace negotiations after a suicide bombing 
while Rabin was Prime Minister] If we would listen to those voices in the opposition, we would in 
fact be listening to the voices of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad. (New York Times, July 26, 1995)
COMMENT: Peres is quick to accuse his opponents of "incitement," but here he accuses the 
political opposition of representing the most vicious terrorist groups openly opposing the 
existence of Israel.
}~ The Middle East is a wild place, and there are many very extreme and terrible people. 
Should we make our future dependent on every Jihad sniper? (Arutz Sheva News Service, 
September 25, 2001)
}~ If we say we won't talk under fire, it means that every gunman can decide there will be 
no dialogue. (Associated Press, August 9, 2001)
COMMENT: A wild place? Whatever happened to the New Middle East? Peres ignores the fact 
that negotiating under fire gives Arafat no incentive to cease fire.
}~ [Prime Minister Sharon had taken the position that there should be no negotiation under 
fire] While we say that we should not negotiate under fire, we also understand that we must talk 
to the Palestinians about how to bring an end to the fire. (New York Times, July 12, 2001)
COMMENT: Stop firing!
}~ The food of politicians is frustration. That is our job, to overcome it. We are not invited to 
Maxim's in Paris. (New York Times, Oct. 7, 2001)
}~ The problem is that the solutions are inherent in hidden places and for that reason I 
believe that negotiating is not a process of bargaining, but of creativity, trying to discover a 
surprise solution. (Jerusalem Post, May 4, 2000)
COMMENT: It is precisely Peres' "creativity," his free-floating imagination, not tempered by 
reason, experience, or historical perspective, that has brought Israel to its present terrible 
situation.
}~ [On being told by then U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher that Assad would not 
meet with him] A girl without a date is like a date without a girl. (Associated Press, January 3, 
2000)
}~ The nature of small-size issues and medium-size issues is more complicated than large 
issues. (Associated Press, January 3, 2000)
}~ I am not sure if the political agreements will go on as they should, and if it shall not, we 
will miss a great historic opportunity to conclude a warring chapter, an air of bitterness, a time 
of deep prejudices and effects upon a very large world, in Muslim towns, in Arab towns and in 
Jewish towns to really make a real conciliation. (Speech to Socialist International, Oslo, May 18, 
1998)
}~ [After being defeated in the election for Prime Minister by Benjamin Netanyahu and 
being accused by him of undermining the elected government by holding negotiations with Arab 
governments on his own] [I] represent one half of Israel that voted for a continuation of the 
peace process (Channel 2 TV News, August 20, 1996).
COMMENT: Can one imagine Al Gore running off to Afganistan to make a deal with the Taliban 
independent of the President on the ground that half the people voted for him?
}~ For many years the custom was to negotiate with one's self. After all, it is easier than to 
negotiate with another party. The change occurred when both sides recognized that there are 
two parties to a conflict, and that to negotiate there is a need for a partner. (Speech at AIPAC 
conference, April 28, 1996, printed in Near East Report, May 6, 1996)
}~ As you know, I negotiated a cease-fire in Beit Jallah, from where they used to shoot at 
Jerusalem; in Hebron, in Jericho, now in Rafah. And we are telling the Palestinians in a clear 
language, where you will take control, we shall be out and enable you to normalize life. And the 
same goes, hopefully if the tranquillity will continue, in one of the most troublesome places, 
which is called Rafah, on the southern tip of the Gaza. (Remarks at the National Press Club, 
Washington, D.C., October 22, 2001)
COMMENT: As Peres was speaking, Arafat's forces (as they had been for days) were firing on 
Jerusalem from Beit Jallah, on Hebron, and (massively) on Rafah.
}~ [Briefing Israeli reporters on his visit to Paris] They say that there is no cease-fire, but 
that is not correct. There is a cease-fire in Hebron, Beit Jallah and also other cities. (Ha'aretz, 
November 8, 2001)
COMMENT: Over 99.9% of the U.S. enjoyed a cease-fire when Bin Laden attacked Manhattan 
and Washington, D.C.
}~ You can always have the date of birth of a problem, but you cannot have the wedding 
time of the group. And I feel I am not sure that Jerusalem is really mature for any decision as [is 
the case with] the refugees. And that is the reason why I advised our former Prime Minister 
Barak not to ask for the finality of the conflict, because Ifelt it may raise the issue of Jerusalem 
and the refugees in the center, and discover that we don't have a solution, an agreed solution, 
because every solution must be agreed. (Remarks at National Press Club, Washington, D.C., 
October 22, 2001)
COMMENT: After eight years of the "peace process," Peres had concluded it is impossible to 
settle the conflict with the Palestinians; therefore, Barak should relinquish territory without 
settling the conflict.