April 20, 2000

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT IN PHOTO OPPORTUNITY WITH CHAIRMAN YASSER ARAFAT OF
PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY THE WHITE HOUSE

     THE PRESIDENT:   Hello, everyone.  Let me just briefly say that I am very, very glad to have Chairman Arafat back here at the White House.  And I'm looking forward to our talks.   We've reached a very serious time in the peace process.  He and Prime Minister Barak have set for themselves an ambitious time table to reach a framework agreement as soon as they can, and then a final agreement by the middle of September.  So we're working hard on it and I think we'll get some things done today.

(...)

     Q    Mr. President, did you write a letter for former Prime Minister Netanyahu, promising him that Israel would keep its nuclear or mass destruction weapons in case they reach an agreement with the Palestinians?

     THE PRESIDENT:  I don't believe that issue ever came up in connection with an agreement with the Palestinians, with Mr. Netanyahu or any other Israeli Prime Minister.  To the best of my memory, it did not.

     I think you all know what the issues are between the Israelis and the Palestinians.  They are difficult; but I think they can be bridged.  If the parties want to do this, we will do everything we can to help them and to minimize the difficulties and the risks involved.  There are risks and difficulties involved for Chairman Arafat; there are risks and difficulties involved for Prime Minister Barak; for the Palestinian people and for the Israeli people.   I believe they are not nearly as great as the risks and difficulties of not making a peace agreement, so I hope they will do it.

     And if they want to do it, I'll do whatever I can to help them.