Now that Israel and the Palestinians have signed a landmark accord on self-rule in the administered territories, Secretary of State Warren Christopher is turning his attention to Israeli-Syrian peace negotiations.
Christopher, who carried new peace proposals back and forth between Jerusalem and Damascus last week, told a Jewish group here he would be returning to the Middle East “probably within the next couple of weeks.”
Addressing the American Jewish Committee’s 88th annual meeting here last week, the secretary expressed hope for progress on the Israeli-Syrian negotiating track, which has been stalled for months.
“I believe that there is a renewed seriousness of purpose on both sides, a purpose to engage comprehensively on all the issues that must be resolved across a broad range of the relationship between the two countries,” he said.
The secretary also told the Jewish group that last week’s Israeli-PLO agreement in Cairo is “an important step forward on the road toward a lasting peace in the Middle East.”
The agreement is “an achievement to be cherished,” Christopher said.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
