Claiborne Pell: “Yesterday in Cairo another milestone was passed in the march toward peace in the Middle East. Israeli Prime Minister…”

“Yesterday in Cairo another milestone was passed in the march toward peace in the Middle East. Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO Chairman Yasir Arafat, after a slight hitch in the ceremonies, signed an agreement to implement the landmark Declaration of Principles. The Cairo agreement brings to a close a tense negotiating period between Israel and the PLO. There have been tremendous ups and downs since the September 13, 1993, signing of the Declaration of Principles. Indiscriminate acts of violence and terror on both sides, including the Hebron killings, interrupted discussions and threatened to undermine the process altogether. Charges of bad faith and expressions of concern resulted from Arafat's lukewarm condemnation of the Afula and Hadeira bombings. But in the end, the leaders on both sides--Prime Minister Rabin, Chairman Arafat, Foreign Minister Peres, Nabil Shaath--shouldered the responsibility to keep the negotiations going. Underneath it all was the patience and constancy of U.S. officials such as Secretary of State Warren Christopher, Ambassador Dennis Ross, and indeed, President Clinton himself, who all worked diligently and effectively behind the scenes to sustain the momentum. I would also like to take a moment to express my appreciation and gratitude for the role that Egypt, and particularly President Hosni Mubarak, played in the negotiations.”