The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy (MIFTAH) expresses serious concern and dismay at the outcome of the Sharm Al-Sheikh summit, which was concluded by US President Bill Clinton with the following statement:

* First, both sides have agreed to issue public statements unequivocally calling for an end of violence. They also agreed to take immediate, concrete measures to end the current confrontation, eliminate points of friction, ensure an end to violence and incitement, maintain calm, and prevent recurrence of recent events.

To accomplish this, both sides will act immediately to return the situation to that which existed prior to the current crisis, in areas such as restoring law and order, redeployment of forces, eliminating points of friction, enhancing security cooperation, and ending the closure and opening the Gaza airport. The United States will facilitate security cooperation between the parties as needed.

*Second, the United States will develop with the Israelis and Palestinians, as well as in consultation with the United Nations Secretary General, a committee of fact-finding on the events of the past several weeks and how to prevent their recurrence. The committee's report will be shared by the U.S. President with the U.N. Secretary General and the parties prior to publication. A final report shall be submitted under the auspices of the U.S. President for publication.

* Third, if we are to address the underlying roots of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, there must be a pathway back to negotiations and a resumption of efforts to reach a permanent status agreement based on the U.N. Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 and subsequent understandings. Toward this end, the leaders have agreed that the United States would consult with the parties within the next two weeks about how to move forward.

In light of the horrific massacres committed by Israel against the Palestinians in the past 3 weeks and the clear Israeli violations of the most basic human rights, MIFTAH views these measures as inappropriate, inadequate, unjust, and most notably a mediocre effort of mere crisis management and damage-control, failing to address the real issues at hand.

Palestinian President Yasser Arafat attended the summit under duress by the US, Arab and European states, as well as the international community, while having to face clear Palestinian opposition back home. This clearly reflected an imbalance of negotiating positions to Barak's advantage, and brought the Palestinian delegation to accept the conditions for short-term treatment of the situation, rather than long-term commitments.

The summit also acts as an effort of face-saving on the part of US President Bill Clinton, whose countless, and desperate, attempts at championing a Middle East peace have so far borne no fruit, due to a one-sided US policy with Israel throughout the peace process.

The outcome of the summit is certainly a blatant effort of aborting the national and regional dynamic of opposition to Israel's violations of international law and illegal status as 'occupier,' it does not fairly evaluate the underlying causes of the current crisis, thus, leaves ample room for further conflict.

We reassert our belief that an end to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict can be achieved only with Israel's full implementation of UN Resolutions 242, 194, and 338. Any attempt by Israel to continue to dictate its conditions for peace will certainly leave the region doomed with conflict and bloodshed, as we recently witnessed with the killing of more than 100 innocent Palestinians.