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Morning News

Israeli Minister of Immigration Absorption: Camp David Summit 'a Historical Moment'

Aired July 12, 2000 - 9:31 a.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: President Clinton is said to be getting into the substance of the issues, as Mideast peace talks enter a second day. Mr. Clinton is hosting talks between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat at Camp David, Maryland.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: The issues they are looking at at Camp David are difficult and emotional. The stakes are high at the Mideast peace summit. This morning, we're going to hear from both sides in the peace process. In a moment, we'll talk with a Palestinian spokeswoman. First, though, we're joined by Yael Tamir. She is minister of immigrant absorption for the government of Israel.

Thanks for joining us this morning.

YAEL TAMIR, ISRAELI MINISTER OF IMMIGRATION ABSORPTION: Thank you.

KAGAN: Since there is a news blackout, we can't talk about exactly what is going on at Camp David, but we can talk about some of the key and difficult issues that they will be talking there. First, since you deal with the issue, would be dealing with the issue of refugees, let's start with that. Will Israel claim responsibility for the Palestinian people, over 3 million people, who have been forced from their homeland over the years?

TAMIR: No, not at all, Israel does not recognize, neither the historical nor the moral responsibility for the refugee issue. However, we would like very much, on a humanitarian basis, to help the refugees, and we will do our best together I hope with a worldwide support team to find solutions to the humanitarian issues of the Palestinians that are now refugees, either in Palestine, in Lebanon, or elsewhere.

KAGAN: What are some practical solutions, some practical help that can be given to these people?

TAMIR: I think the help should be given in the economic sphere, allow them to resettle, to built a life for themselves. But it should be very clear, Israel will not allow Palestinian refugees to come back to Israel borders, to the Israeli sovereign borders, and all solutions should be found outside these borders.

KAGAN: Where are these people supposed to go?

TAMIR: Well, they are spread around the world, and we would like them to be resettled, either to leave, or within the Palestinian Authority in their own territories there.

KAGAN: What about on the issue of Jerusalem? Many people say that this is the biggest sticking point, that this will be the most difficult for both sides to agree on. Do you think there will ever be a time when Israeli and Palestinians can live side-by-side and agree on who should be running Jerusalem?

TAMIR: Well, to be very honest, I am a Jerusalemite, we live side-by-side with the Palestinians in Jerusalem. The question is a question of sovereignty, and Israel is determined not to divide the sovereignty over Jerusalem. Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, and there will be no divided sovereignty over the city of Jerusalem.

In the Camp David summit, they will be checking different solutions to the issue, but the prime minister has declared very clearly that Jerusalem will now be divided.

KAGAN: And on the issue of Palestinian statehood, Yasser Arafat has said, and the Palestinian people have said, if there is no agreement come September, they could declare a state on their own. What do you think would be the ramifications of such an announcement?

TAMIR: Well, Israel is against any unilateral moves, and certainly we are against a unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state. Though, it is quite clear that, through the negotiations, in the process of the negotiation, an acknowledgment of a Palestinian state could be one result of the summit meeting here in Camp David. However, that should be agreed upon by the side during the negotiations.

KAGAN: Bottom line: are you hopeful?

TAMIR: I am very hopeful, because I think that this is a historical moment, where the three leaders actually meet for the first time. It's the first time that Yasser Arafat, Ehud Barak and President Clinton are meeting together. They are here in order to discuss the concrete issues.

Prime Minister Barak came here in order to see whether we can finalize a deal with the Palestinians. He is willing to go the extra mile, and the only question is right now: Are the Palestinians ready to go to the extra mile so that we can meet and find a fair compromise for all of us in the Middle East.

KAGAN: Yael Tamir, thank for joining us and giving us one side of what is a difficult situation in the Mideast.

TAMIR: Thank you.

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