BARAK: Basically, we responded positively to the ideas of Clinton. We have some reservations, but we say that if the other side will take it as a basis, we will agree.
I will not sign a document that will pass sovereignty over the Temple Mount to the Palestinians. At the same time, we are not going to ignore the fact that there are mosques [that have been] there for some 1,300 years. The only thing left is to find a formula that will take into account the sensitivities of both sides.
I don’t think that it makes sense to try to analyze it before there is a Palestinian readiness to go into negotiations.
It’s clear we have a mandate. If there will be an agreement, and there’s still a great “if,” it will be put in front of the whole people. And I wonder what the hell the Likud or the right wing have to criticize about it. Who can put himself above the real sovereigns, the people?
It’s a ridiculous argument. It’s clear that, first of all, Israel is the strongest [country in the region], and the military can afford to negotiate peace in order to avoid unnecessary wars that might break out if we don’t reach an agreement, after which we’ll have to bury our dead. They will have to bury theirs, too. But still then, we’ll sit down to negotiate exactly the same issues.
A person cannot choose his pilot, and a nation cannot choose its neighbors, especially if we came here deliberately after 2,000 years. And I did not expect it to be easy. Nations have the tendency of being born in blood, not in cocktails. I cannot penetrate the soul of Arafat. But he will be responsible in the eyes of his people and for history.
Look, I don’t know. You cannot control the dreams and aspirations of individuals, but you can agree about the targets of practical policies. People can still dream. We also have our dreams. I’m torn apart from within. My heart is a different place than my head.
I can always tell the people that the right wing has no alternative, only cliches and slogans. I don’t think that they have any other alternative policies to struggle against terror. And they don’t have any other alternative formula to reach peace. So somehow basically it’s a choice between, you know, war or peace.
