Palestinians get strong support at Jerusalem conference

The conference in Morocco was part of Arafat's efforts to rouse support for the Palestinian position on Jerusalem

In this story: 'Key for peace and war' Knesset moves to rein in Barak Barak in Turkey Time for 'tough truths' U.S. model called 'simplistic' RELATED STORIES, SITES

From staff and wire reports

AGADIR, Morocco -- Religious and political leaders issued a strong statement Monday backing the Palestinian position on Jerusalem -- something that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has been seeking in his worldwide bid to rally support on perhaps the most contentions issue weighing down peace efforts.

The Jerusalem committee of Islam's main world body, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, called for the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, but said east Jerusalem must be the capital of a future Palestinian state.

"The committee confirms its support to the state of Palestine and its sovereignty over al-Quds (Jerusalem) and all the holy Islamic and Christian shrines," said a statement from the committee after its one-day meeting. "It also confirms that al-Quds is the capital of the Palestinian independent state," the statement said.

AUDIO CNN's Ben Wedeman reports from Morocco on the possible impact of the conference 630K/29 sec. AIFF or WAV sound Wedeman on the significance of Jerusalem to the Muslim world 557K/26 sec. AIFF or WAV sound Palestinian negotiator Asfour and Israeli negotiator Dan Merridor express their conflicting views on Jerusalem 511K/24 sec. AIFF or WAV sound    VIDEO CNN's Jerrold Kessel reports on problems since the Camp David summit Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)     MESSAGE BOARD Mideast peace   • Issues • Key Players • Maps • Timeline • Photo Gallery • Quiz • Key Documents • Overview • Related Sites • Video Archive • Message Board

The meeting, sought by Arafat after the collapse of Camp David peace talks in July, included foreign ministers from 16 Muslim countries, as well as a delegation of Muslim and, for the first time, Christian religious leaders from Jerusalem.

"There can be no peace unless Palestinian Muslims and Christians recover their holy city," said Attallah Hana, a leading Greek Orthodox figure in Jerusalem who headed the Christian delegation to the session.

'Key for peace and war'

Jerusalem is sacred to three major religions -- Islam, Christianity and Judaism. Palestinians want east Jerusalem as their capital, while the Israelis -- who captured the city from Jordan during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war -- insist Jerusalem will remain forever united under Israeli control.

Arafat on Monday called Jerusalem "the essence of the Palestinian issue and the most dangerous and sensitive of all issues ... it's the key for peace and war in the region of the Middle East."

He said, "This is a red line which can't be crossed."

Since Camp David -- where Arafat refused Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak's offer of limited sovereignty over some areas of east Jerusalem -- both Palestinian and Israeli leaders have grown increasingly intransigent, saying it is incumbent upon the other side to move.

Knesset moves to rein in Barak

A majority of Israeli lawmakers, uncomfortable with Barak's reported concessions, on Monday passed a symbolic resolution stating that the prime minister had no moral authority to sign a peace deal with the Palestinians.

Lawmaker Benny Elon of the hawkish National Unity party called the house into special session during its summer recess to present a list of 62 of the 120 Knesset members who favor a law banning a minority government from signing such treaties.

Elon told the Knesset he fears Barak "will pull a fast one and sign an agreement with the Palestinians during the recess," which lasts until the end of October.

Because of the summer break, Elon could not propose his measure as a law. "This is a demonstration," said co-sponsor Reuben Rivlin of the opposition Likud party, which Barak has been courting since conservative and religious parties defected from his coalition over the concessions he reportedly was prepared to make at Camp David in July.

Barak in Turkey

Barak was in Muslim Turkey on Monday, where Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit lauded him for making "courageous moves" in both internal and external politics.

Ankara maintains close relations with both Israel and the Palestinians. Turkey and Israel cooperate in military training, and Israeli firms have upgraded Turkish fighter jets. The two nations also are negotiating the sale of Turkish water to Israel.

Barak on Monday said he hoped the relationship between the two countries would "impress other neighbors to begin to look at us as a normal and legitimate part and partner in this region."

Time for 'tough truths'

In Paris on Monday, Israel's acting foreign minister, Shlomo Ben-Ami, told his French counterpart, Hubert Vedrine, that Europe should "tell Arafat tough truths," the Israeli Foreign Ministry said.

"Arafat will have to make fateful decisions if he wishes to achieve an agreement which will end the conflict," Ben-Ami was quoted as telling Vedrine.

In Morocco, however, Arafat dug in his heels. "We refuse any sort of pressure that would lead to a sovereignty other than the Palestinian, Arab, Islamic and Christian sovereignty of the city," he told the opening session of the Jerusalem committee.

Morocco's King Mohammed called on leaders gathered in his country to "work responsibly" to evaluate the issues, "especially those decisions concerning Jerusalem -- the cause of all Muslims seeking to liberate it for a Palestinian national independent state."

The king added, "We should emphasize that there is no real peace in the Middle East without the implementation of the international legacy and international law concerning holy, occupied Jerusalem."

He said he was convinced that U.S. President Bill Clinton "is determined to use all his weight" to help achieve peace.

U.S. model called 'simplistic'

But at the United Nations on Monday there was a different characterization of U.S. involvement in the Middle East peace process. Palestinian spokeswoman Hanan Ashrawi said Washington "constructed a simplistic" model for the peace process.

Speaking as secretary-general of the Palestinian Initiative for Global Dialogue and Democracy at the annual U.N. conference of nongovermnetal organizations, Ashrawi said, "We cannot superimpose on any conflict very simple, borrowed and ready-made solutions ... The Americans constructed a simplistic paradigm for our peace process. And they expected everybody to think like Americans, to behave like Americans."

Muslim and Christian leaders joined political leaders for the meeting in Agadir

"It took me a long time to convince the (U.S.) State Department that perhaps this may not be the most authentic, appropriate peace process for us, because all the elements that go into the making of the conflict have been excluded for the sake of simplicity," she said amid laughter.

Despite warm praise for Clinton personally, Palestinians have been critical of how, since Camp David, the U.S. position, in their estimate, has tilted toward Israel. But in meetings with leaders throughout the world, including historic Palestinian allies Russia and China, Arafat has failed to garner unconditional backing for a unilateral declaration of statehood on or after September 13.

Palestinian negotiator Hassan Asfour in an interview with CNN on Monday complained about the slow pace of negotiations, saying, "We are asking about lasting peace, not a lasting peace process."

But Israeli lawmakers will not see Barak rush into a peace agreement. Elon's measure would ban minority governments from signing pacts that change Israel's borders or relinquish territory.

"They can sign agreements about selling bananas," said Elon's spokesman, Pini Ben-Or.

In an explanation attached to his three-paragraph proposal, Elon said if Barak's minority government signs a peace treaty, "it would be very difficult for a future government to shake it off"

Though Barak's coalition represents only a third of the Knesset, the opposition has been unable to bring down his government in a vote of no-confidence, which requires a majority of at least 61.

Barak has said he plans to complete a peace deal and let the people approve it in a referendum or a quickly called election, over the head of the Knesset. Hard-line opponents admitted that the tactic probably would succeed.

Responding to Elon's proposal Monday, Justice Minister Yossi Beilin blamed Israel's election system for the problem. Israelis vote separately for prime minister and members of Knesset, setting up the present situation in which a minority government can rule for months or years but cannot pass legislation.

"The system is a curse," said Beilin.

CNN Cairo Bureau Chief Ben Wedeman, the Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

Moroccan king hosts Arab conference on Jerusalem
August 27, 2000
U.S. looks for 'a hand' from Arab world for Mideast peace agreement
August 24, 2000
U.S. cautious about reviving role in Mideast peace process
August 17, 2000
Arafat reconsidering Palestinian independence on eve of negotiations
August 16, 2000
Formal talks to resume between Israelis, Palestinians
August 16, 2000
China noncommittal on Arafat's timetable for Palestinian state
August 14, 2000
Mideast peace talks to resume at end of August, says Palestinian official
August 12, 2000

Organization of the Islamic Conference
Palestinian National Authority
Israeli Government's Official Website
The Municipality of Jerusalem
Office of the Turkish President (Turkish)
U.S. State Department
  •  Middle East Summit Page

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.