The Palestinian leadership has blamed Israel for the failure of the Eilat talks to make any tangible progress in reaching a framework agreement by the end of this month, let alone a final accord by September 2000. The talks in Eilat were overshadowed by Israel’s shortsighted perception of the peace process, which was clearly outlined in its proposed maps for Palestinian sovereignty over a mere 65% of the West Bank, leaving 35% under full Israeli control, including almost all settlements on Palestinian territory.

The Palestinian delegation described the proposals as “insulting,” and detrimental to the achievement of peace. They stressed that the maps proposed by Israel fail to fulfill the provisions of the basis on which the peace process was launched, namely UN Resolutions 242 and 338.

In this latest attempt to dismiss the legitimacy of Palestinian rights, Israel is once again violating the very spirit of the peace process and undermining the prospects of putting a real end to the conflict. The June 1967 borders must be recognized as the boundaries of the future Palestinian state; any map, proposal, or agreement that fails to implement this cannot in any way facilitate genuine peace in the region.

A lasting and just peace can only be achieved with Israel’s recognition of the above-mentioned principles, which have been repeatedly asserted by the Palestinians and continuously advocated by the international community and international law.