"PRESENTING HISTORY'S BEST ON PBS." "FUING FORTHE 50 YEARS WAR:" "ISRAEL AND THE ARABS" "WAS PROVIDED BY:" "AND PBS VIEWERS LIKE YOU." "Narrator:" "PALESTINE" "A HOLY PLACE, A BATTLEGROUND" "A HOMELAND CLAIMED BY BOTH ARABS AND JEWS." "[Captioning sponsored by THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING and VIEWERS LIKE YOU]" "Narrator:" "BY 1947, THE LINES WERE DRAWN." "Announcer:" "TO THE JEWS" "PALESTINE IS THEIR TRADITIONAL AND SPIRITUAL HOME" "THE PROMISED LAND." "BUT THE MAJORITY OF THE INHABITANTS OF PALESTINE" "ARE ARABS." "THEY, TOO, REGARD PALESTINE AS THEIR RIGHTFUL HOME." "BUT WITH THE END OF THE WAR" "INTO PALESTINE PORTS CAME SHIP AFTER SHIP" "CRAMMED WITH ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS" "REFUGEES FROM RECENT PERSECUTION" "REFUGEES FROM RECENT PERSECUTION IN GERMABELSEN AND DACHAU.D," "THE ARABS, FEARFUL OF BECOMING A MINORITY" "PERSUADED THE BRITISH TO LIMIT JEWISH IMMIGRATION." "JEWISH EXTREMISTS ATTACKED BRITISH TROOPS" "WRECKED GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS, BLEW UP TRAINS AND SHIPS." "AND SO PALESTINE REMAINS A PLACE OF MARTIAL LAW" "WHERE ALL GO THEIR WAYS ONLY UNDER WATCH" "WHERE THE INNOCENT MUST SUFFER WITH THE GUILTY." "ator:" "GREAT BRITAIN HAD RULED PALESTINE FOR THREE DECADES." "AFTER YEARS OF STRENUOUS BUT" "HIS MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT HAS REACHED THE CONCLUSION" "THAT THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO BRING ABOUT A SETTLEMENT IN PALESTINE" "BASED UPON THE CONSENT OF BOTH ARABS AND JEWS" "AND THAT THE MANDATE IS NO LONGER WORKABLE." "Announcer:" "A YORK TRANSPORT LANDING AT LEYDA AIRPORT BRINGS DELEGATES" "TO THE UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON PALESTINE." "Narrator:" "THE DERED THE PARTITION OF PALESTINE" "INTO A JEWISH AND AN ARAB STATE." "Announcer:" "AND ON THE SHOULDERS OF THESE DELEGATES" ". RESTS A HEAVY RESPONSIBILITY" "Narrator:" "BUT THE ARABS DID NOT WANT TO TALK TO THE COMMITTEE." "THEY WANTED NOTHING TO DO WITH THE JEWS." "(man speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "SABRI ABDEEN WAS AN HONORABLE SHEIKH AND AN ELOQUENT SPEAKER" "AND HE SAID, "IF THE JEWS WANT TO TAKE PALESTINE FROM US" "WE SWEAR THAT WE WILL THROW THEM INTO THE SEA."" "AND HE POINTED TO THE MEDITERRANEAN" "WHICH WAS A FEW HUNDRED METERS" "FROM THE PLACE WHERE WE HAD GATHERED." "Narrator:" "THE ARAB LEADERSHIP BELIEVED THAT IF A PARTITION WAS IMPOSED" "THEY COULD REVERSE IT BY FORCE." "(Nusseibeh speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "JAMAL HUSSEINI, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ARAB HIGHER COMMITTEE" "SAID THAT ONLY 400 TO 500 RIFLEMEN" "CAN EASILY TAKE OVER TEL AVIV." "Narrator:" "WHILE THE COMMITTEE WAS STILL IN PALESTINE" "A SHIP CALLEDEXODUS ARRIVED IN HAIFA" "LOADED WITH JEWISH HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS." "Announcer:" "BUT NOW SHE HAD ON BOARD SOME 5,000 JEWS" "WHO'D HOPED TO ENTER PALESTINE ILLEGALLY." "WHEN SHE WAS BOARDED AT SE A BY THE NAVY" "A FIERCE BATTLE WAS FOUGHT ON HER DECKS" "RESULTING IN MANY CASUALTIES ON BOTH SIDES." "Narrator:" "THE U.N. COMMITTEE SAW FIRSTHAND THE IMMIGRANTS' DESPAIR" "WHEN THEY WERE FORCED TO RETURN TO EUROPE." "THE JEWS ARGUED THAT REFUGEES NEEDED A HOME" "AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE WELCOMED BY AN ARAB STATE." "THE U.N. COMMITTEE AGREED." "THEY RECOMMENDED THAT PALESTINE BE PARTITIONED" "WHEN THE BRITISH PULLED OUT." "(man speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "WE FELT THAT WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO THE PALESTINIANS WAS UNJUST" "AND THAT THE DIVISION OF PALESTINE WAS NOT FAIR." "E ARABS WERE OUTRAGED." "Man:" "WE HAD A MAN CALLED MUSTAFA" "WHO MANAGED TO PENETRATE" "LITERALLY INTO THE CIRCLE OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL" "TO READ A LETTER WRITTEN IN THE BLOOD" "OF SOME SEVERAL THOUSAND EGYPTIAN MUSLIM BROTHERS" "DENOUNCING ISRAEL AND, UH..." "THE SUPPORT OF ISRAEL AND SO ON." "YOU ALL KNOW HOW TO VOTE:" "THOSE WHO ARE IN FAVOR WILL SAY "YES."" "THOSE WHO ARE AGAINST WILL SAY "NO."" "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "NO ONE RELIED ON THE CALCULATIONS" "MADE BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE ASSEMBLY." "EACH PERSON HELD HIS OWN PENCIL AND PIECE OF PAPER" "AND CALCULATED WHETHER OR NOT" "THERE WAS TWO-THIRDS FOR THE PARTITION OR NOT." "UNITED KINGDOM" " ABSTAIN." "UNITED STATES" " YES." "PARAGUAY" " YES." "VENEZUELA..." " Translator:" "AND TOWARDS THE END DURING THE LAST COUNTRIES" "U.S.A., VENEZUELA, ETC.-- WE FOUND THERE WAS TWO-THIRDS." "WE JUMPED FROM OUR PLACES WITH JOY." "WE WEPT, WE HUGGED, WE KISSED." "Man:" "THE RESOLUTION..." "OF THE DUCT COMMITTEE FOR PALESTINE" "WAS ADOPTED BY 33 VOTES, 13 AGAINST, 10 ABSTENTIONS." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "I WAS GLAD, I WAS VERY GLAD" "BECAUSE FOR ME IT WAS IMPORTANT" "THAT THE U.N., ACCORDING TO THE DECREE OF NATIONS" "WAS GIVING, GRANTING THE JEWS" " I'D SAY THE ZIONISTS" "AN INDEPENDENT COUNTRY ON THE LAND OF ISRAEL." "Translator:" "AND I THOUGHT IN MY HEART, HISTORY IS TURNING A HUGE PAGE." "(speaking Arabic)" "THE NEWS WAS BROADCAST AT 8:00 P.M." "THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE LISTENED TO IT EVERYWHERE" "AND THERE WAS THIS FEELING OF FRUSTRATION AND SADNESS" "A FEELING OF CATASTROPHE" "WHICH WAS ABOUT TO BEFALL PALESTINE." "RIOTS ANTRATIONS STARTED EVERYWHERE." "Narrator:" "THE ARABS ATTACKED JEWS AND THE JEWS HIT BACK." "CITIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS" "WERE DIVIDED ALONG RELIGIOUS LINES." "IN JERUSALEM, AN ARAB CAR BOMB" "DESTROYED THE JEWISH AGENCY OFFICES." "SEVEN WERE KILLED, MORE THAN A HUNDRED WOUNDED." "THE 50 YEARS WAR WAS UNDERWAY." "PALESTINIAN FORCES FROM TOWNS AND VILLAGES" "M ALONG THE ROAD TO JERUSALE" "WERE COMMANDED BY ABDUL KADER EL HUSSEINI." "THEY BLOCKED SUPPLIES GOING FROM JEWISH HELD TEL-AVIV" "TO A BESIEGED JERUSALEM." "KEEPING THE JEWS OF JERUSALEM SUPPLIED" "WAS THE FIRST PRIORITY OF THE JEWISH ARMY, THE HAGANAH." "THEY TRIED TO DEFEND THE" "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "IT WAS VERY HARD TO PROTECT THE CONVOYS." "WE HAD A HUGE NUMBER OF CASUALTIES" "AMONG THE CONVOY ESCORTS" "AND THERE WAS A BIG PRODUCT." "(Navon speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "WHEN A CONVOY GOT THROUGH, THE WHOLE CITY KNEW." "THE TRUCKS BROUGHT VITAL SUPPLIES, FLOUR." "WE REALLY NEEDED MATCHES AND CIGARETTES." "CAN YOU IMAGINE SOLDIERS WITHOUT CIGARETTES?" "Man:" "WE STARTED WITH MILITARY OPERATIONS" "TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ROAD BETWEEN TEL AVIV AND JERUSALEM" "WILL NOT BE ENDANGERED BY THE BIG VILLAGES OR TOWNS" "THAT WERE ALONG THE ROAD" "WHERE FROM CAME ALL THE ATTACKERS ON THE CONVOYS." "Narrator:" "A SPECIAL HAGANAH BRIGADE WAS FORMED" "TO OPEN THE ROAD TO JERUSALEM." "THE SYSTEM WAS TO ATTACK THE VILLAGE" "ILIANS TO GIVE WARNING" "TO DESTROY THE VILLAGE." "AND BY THE ELIMINATION OF THE VILLAGES" "ALONG AND ADJACENT TO THE ROAD" "WE WERE SURE THAT THERE WOULD BE NO ATTACKS." "Narrator:" "THE JEWS TRIED TO SEIZE KASTIL" "A VILLAGE CONTROLLING THE ROAD TO JERUSALEM." "(Narkiss speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "IT WAS A PALMACH UNIT-- MY TROOPS" "THAT CAPTURED THE KASTIL" "AND IT WAS HERE THAT ABDUL KADER EL HUSSEINI" "THE PALESTINIAN LEADER, WAS KILLED." "Narrator:" "ENRAGED, HUSSEINI'S SOLDIERS" "WENT TO RECOVER THE BODY OF THEIR LEADER." "Narkiss (translated):" "THE ARABS COUNTERATTACKED." "OUR REINFORCEMENTS WERE WIPED OUT." "IT WAS A VERY BLACK DAY." "Narrator:" "DOWN THE ROAD FROM KASTIL" "THERE WOULD BE ANOTHER BATTLE THAT DAY." "TWO JEWISH EXTREMIST ORGANIZATIONS" "IRGUN AND LEHI, WHICH HAD FOUGHT THE BRITISH" "WERE EAGER TO PROVE THEMSELVES IN THE NEW WAR." "Translator:" "IT WAS SUCH A TRAGEDY." "DEIR YASSIN WAS A LOVELY VILLAGE." "Narrator:" "THE EVENTS AT DEIR YASSIN" "WOULD HAUNT RELATIONS BETWEEN JEWS AND ARABS" "FOR YEARS TO COME." "DEIR YASSIN HAD STAYED OUT OF THE FIGHTING." "IT WAS NOT ON THE HAGANAH'S LIST OF HOSTILE VILLAGES." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "I RAN INTO A MAN" "WHO HAD LEFT US FOR THE TERRORISTS." "HE TOLD ME THAT THE IRGUN AND LEHI" "HAD GOT PERMISSION FROM OUR COMMANDER" "TO ATTACK THE VILLAGE OF DEIR YASSIN." "HE WAS VERY PROUD." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "THE IRGUN AND LEHI FORCES" "WERE ORDERED TO TAKE DEIR YASSIN." "WERE ORDERED TO TAKE DEIR YASSIN.I RAN TO MY COMMANDER AND ASKED, "WHY DID YOU ALLOW IT?"" "HE SAID, "I SUGGETWO OTH ER TARGETS." "THEY TURNED THEM DOWN."" "HE SAID, "I CAN'T SHOOT THEM, CAN I?"" "SO I DECIDED TO SPY ON THEM." "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "THEIR LOUDSPEAKERS BLARED OUT, "LAY DOWN YOUR ARMS." "RUN FOR YOUR LIVES."" "THEN I HEARD OUR MACHINE GUN." "I WAS KNEELING DOWN LIKE THIS." "WHEN I LOOKED UP, I SAW THE VILLAGE ABLAZE." "THEIR ATTACK LIT UP THE WHOLE VILLAGE." "Narrator:" "THE VILLAGE WAS NOT THE SOFT TARGET THE JEWS HAD EXPECTED." "Translator:" "FROM THE WINDOWS OF THEIR HOUSES" "ARABS WERE SHOOTING AT OUR SOLDIERS" "AND FROM A FORCE OF 132, WE HAD 42 WOUNDED AND SIX DEAD." "Narrator:" "THE COMMANDER ORDERED A HOUSE-TO-HOUSE ATTACK." "SO I GAVE THE ORDER" ""BEFORE ENTERING A HOUSE, THROW A COUPLE OF GRENADES INSIDE."" "THEY THREW A GRENADE INTO ONE HOUSE." "28 WERE KILLED." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO ATTACK THE ENEMY" "WITHOUT HURTIN" "IT WAS DIFFICULT." "IT WAS PAINFUL AND I'M SORRY WE HAD TO DO IT" "BUT WE HAD NO CHOICE." "(Mahmoud speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "AFTER THE BATTLE, THEY TOOK 14 PRISONERS." "THEY LINED THEM UP BY THE QUARRY" "AND MOWED THEM DOWN." "THEY THREW THEIR BODIES IN THE QUARRY." "THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED." "hen speaking Hebrew) (" "Translator:" "WHILE THIS WAS GOING ON, JEWS CAME FROM THE NEXT VILLAGE." "MOST OF THEM WERE RELIGIOUS, BY THE WAY." "THEY STARTED YELLING, "BASTARDS, MURDERERS, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"" "SOME SHOUTED IN HEBREW, OTHERS IN YIDDISH." "THEY STOPPED THE MASSACRE." "Narrator:" "110 ARABS DIED IN DEIR YASSIN." "SOME DIED FIGHTING, OTHERS WERE MURDERED." "THE SURVIVORS WERE TAKEN TO JERUSALEM." "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "WE GATHERED IN JERUSALEM AT THE HEBRON GATE." "WE CHECKED WHO WAS MISSING AND WHO HAD SURVIVED." "THEN THE PALESTINIAN LEADERS ARRIVED, INCLUDING DR. KHALIDI." "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "I ASKED DR. KHALIDI HOW WE SHOULD COVER THE STORY." "HE SAID, "WE MUST MAKE THE MOST OF THIS."" "N SO HE WROTE A PRESS RELEAS E STATING THAT AT DEIR YASSI" "CHILDREN WERE MURDERED, PREGNANT WOMEN WERE RAPED" "ALL SORTS OF ATROCITIES." "Narrator:" "ARAB RADIO STATIONS PASSED O N THE FALSE REPORTS" "IGNORING THE PROTESTS OF THE WITNESSES." "(speaking Arabic)" "" Translator:" "WE SAID, "THERE WAS NO RAPE." "HE SAID, "WE HAVE TO SAY THI S SO THE ARAB ARMIES WILL COME" "TO LIBERATE PALESTINE FROM THE JEWS."" "(speaking Arabic)" ".ator:" "THIS WAS OUR BIGGEST MISTAKE" ". WE DID NOT REALIZE HOW OUR PEOPLE WOULD REACT" "N AS SOON AS THEY HEARD THAT WOMEN HAD BEEN RAPED AT DEIR YASSI" "PALESTINIANS FLED IN TERROR." "THEY RAN AWAY FROM ALL OUR VILLAGES." "Narrator:" "IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, OVER HALF THE ARAB POPULATION" "TH OF A MILLION PEOPLE" "FLED THEIR HOMES IN PALESTINE." "ISRAEL NEVER ALLOWED THEM BACK." "THE BRITISH DID LITTLE" "TO PREVENT THE ATROCITIES COMMITTED BY BOTH SIDES." "AS THEY PREPARED TO LEAVE" "R HANDS OF THE WHOLE MESS." "AT THE UNITED NATIONS, THE JEWS ANNOUNCED THEIR PLANS." "Man:" "NOT LATER THAN MAY 16 NEXT" "A PROVISIONAL JEWISH GOVERNMENT WILL COMMENCE TO FUNCTION" "IN COOPERATION WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES" "OF THE UNITED NATIONS THEN IN PALESTINE." "Narrator:" "THE JEWISH LEADERSHIP SOUGHT POLITICAL SUPPORT ABROAD." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT ARGUED AGAINST IT." "THEIR FIRST RESPONSE WAS:" "NO COUNTRY, NO STATE." "Narrator:" "BEN GURION SENT HIS CLOSE COLLEAGUE, MOSHE SHARETT" "TO CONVINCE THE AMERICANS TO RECOGNIZE" "THE PROPOSED JEWISH STATE." "SHARETT TRIED TO PERSUADE" "SECRETARY OF STATE GEORGE MARSHALL" "WHO WAS TOTALLY OPPOSED TO THE IDEA." "Marshall:" "...BACK TO PEACE AND PROSPERITY." "SHARETT EXPLAINED THAT WE HAVE NO OTHER WAY THAN TO PROCEED." "THIS IS A HISTORIC JUNCTURE." "IF WE MISS THAT, WE MAY CREATE A TRAGEDY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS." "Narrator:" "BUT PRESIDENT TRUMAN SURPRISED EVERYONE" "WITH HIS STRONG SUPPORT." "I WAS TOLD BY ALL THESE SO-CALLED EXPERTS" "THAT IF IT WAS DONE" "IT'D INVOLVE THE WHOLE NEAR EAST IN A WAR" "AND IT WOULD ALSO INVOLVE THE UNITED STATES." "HITLER HAD BEEN MURDERING JEWS RIGHT AND LEFT." "I SAW IT, AND I DREAM ABOUT IT EVEN TO THIS DAY." "THE JEWS NEEDED SOME PLACE WHERE THEY COULD GO." "IT IS MY ATTITUDE THAT THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT" "COULDN'T STAND IDLY BY WHILE THE VICTIMS HITLER'S MADNESS" "ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BUILD NEW LIVES." "Narrator:" "MARSHALL WAS WORRIED THAT WAR WOULD BREAK OUT." "." "Marshall:" "WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF A VERY CRITICAL SITUATION" "WE SHOULD THEREFORE CAREFULLY AVOID" "APPROACHING INTERNATIONAL PROBLEMS ON AN EMOTIONAL BASIS." "Narrator:" "HE WANTED TO?" "AINTAIN GOOD RELATIONS WITH THE ARABS." "S Sabit:" "I WAS ON THE RECEIVING END OF AZAM PASHA'S IMPRESSION" "OF HIS MEETING WITH MARSHALL, AND HE WAS HAPPY." "I MEAN, HE FELT MUCH MORE REASSURED ABOUT THE AMERICANS" "AFTER HAVING TALKED TO MARSHALL THAN BEFORE." "AND WE HAD THE SAUDIS WITH US." "THEY WERE OUR PARTNERS IN THIS BUSINESS." "Narrator:" "TWO DAYS BEFORE THE BRITISH LEFT PALESTINE" "TRUMAN SUMMONED MARSHALL TO THE WHITE HOUSE." "CLARK CLIFFORD WAS ASKED TO SUPPORT THE CASE" "FOR A JEWISH STATE." "." "Clifford:" "GENERAL MARSHALL STARTED OFF" "THE PRESIDENT LISTENED ATTENTIVELY" "AND THEN SAID, "I WOULD LIKE NOW TO HEAR FROM CLARK."" "BUT AS I SPOKE, I SAW MARSHALL'S FACE GETTING REDDER AND REDDER" "AND WHEN I FINISHED, HE EXPLODED." "Narrator:" "MARSHALL ACCUSED TRUMAN" "OF A TRANSPARENT DODGE TO WIN THE JEWISH VOTE." "Man:" "CLARK CLIFFO DID NOT DISGUISE THE FACT" ". THAT MARSHALL WAS RAGING MAD" ""THEY DON'T NEED A STATE, EY DON'T DESERVE A STATE" "IT ISN'T THEIRS, THEY'VE STOLEN THAT LAND."" "THESE WERE MARSHALL'S WORDS." "Clifford:" "HE TURNED TO THE PRESIDENT AND SAID" ""I'M OBLIGED, MR. PRESIDENT, TO TELL YOU" ""THAT IF YOU SHOULD ADOPT THE POLICY" ""THAT IS RECOMMENDED BY CLIFFORD" ""I WOULD BE UNABLE TO VOTE FOR YOU" "IN THIS COMING ELECTION IN NOVEMBER."" "WELL, DEAD SILENCE IN THE ROOM." "NO ONE HAD EVER HEARD ANYTHING LIKE IT." "I HAD NEVER HEARD ANYBODY THREATEN" "THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IN THAT MANNER." "Narrator:" "BEFORE MARSHALL COULD GO ANY FURTHER" "TRUMAN ENDED THE MEETING." "I GATHERED MY PAPERS TOGETHER, AND THE PRESIDENT SAID" ""WELL, THAT WAS TOUGH AS A COB."" "Rafael:" "MARSHALL SAID TO SHARETT" ""WELL, IT'S YOUR DECISION." ""DON'T COUNT THAT WE CAN BAIL YOU OUT." ""BUT WE KNOW THAT YOU HAVE REACHED AN HISTORIC STAGE" "AND GOD PROTECT YOU."" "Newsreel narrator:" "EASTWARD, THE ARAB LEGION POISED FOR INVASION" "ON THE TRANSJORDAN BORDER." "A RARELY PHOTOGRAPHED KING ABDULLAH" "REVIEWED A BRIGADE OF REINFORCEMENTS FROM IRAQ." "Narrator:" "MARSHALL'S PREDICTION OF WAR WAS ABOUT TO COME TRUE." "FIVE ARAB STATES MOBILIZED ON THE BORDER" "THREATENING TO ENTER PALESTINE" "D CRUSH A JEWISH STATE THREIF IT CAME INTO BEING.TINE" ". FOR THE JEWS OF PALESTINE, THIS WAS A CRITICAL MOMENT" "BEN GURION WAS DETERMINED TO GO AHEAD" "WITH OR WITHOUT INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "I HAD TO ACT FAST." "I DIDN'T CONSULT ANYONE." "(speaking Hebrew)" "." "Translator:" "TODAY, THE BRITISH MANDATE OVER THE LAND OF ISRAEL ENDS" "WE DECLARE A JEWISH STATE IN THE ANCIENT LAND OF ISRAEL." "IT WILL BE CALLED THE STATE OF ISRAEL." "(onlookers applauding)" "Narrator:" "AT THE SAME TIME" "THE U.N.'s ROLE IN PALESTINE WAS SUPPOSED TO END." "WHEN THE HANDS POINTED TO 6:00" "THE IRAQI DELEGATE GOT UP AND SAID..." "MR. PRESIDENT, THERE IS A VERY IMPORTANT MATTER TO CONSIDER" "BEFORE WE PROCEED." "THE TIME IS ONE MINUTE PAST 6:00" "THE UNITED STATES DELEGATE WHEN HE CAME TO THIS ROSTRUM DECLARED" "THAT IF BY 6:00 WE CANNOT ARRIVE AT ANY CONCLUSION" "THE WHOLE GAME IS UP." "AND I HOPE THAT YOU, MR. PRESIDENT" "TO GIVE US YOUR RULING." "THE TIME IS PAST 6:00 NOW." "THAT WAS ABOUT THE ONLY OCCASION" "WHEN THE IRAQI DELEGATE AND I HAVE EVER AGREED ON ANYTHING ." "HE WAS FULL OF EXUBERANCE" "BECAUSE HE THOUGHT THE GAME IS UP" "AND NOW THE ROAD IS OPEN FOR THE ARAB INVASION." "I FELT THAT THE GAME IS UP" "AND THAT MEANT THAT WE WERE FREE TO ESTABLISH OUR STATE" "WITHOUT BEING ACCUSED" "OF IMPINGING UPON AN INTERNATIONAL DECISION." "Narrator:" "THEN THE NEWS FROM ISRAEL ARRIVED." "THIS GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN INFORMED" "THAT A JEWISH STATE HAS BEEN PROCLAIMED IN PALESTINE" "AND RECOGNITION HAS BEEN REQUESTED" "BY THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT THEREOF." "THE UNITED STATES RECOGNIZES THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT" ". AS THEDE FACTOAUTHORITY OF THE NEW STATE OF ISRAEL" "Eban:" "SCARCELY HAD THE UNITED STATES PRONOUNCED" "ITS WORDSOF RECOGNITION" "AND ALMOST UNNOTICED BY OUR OWN DELEGATION" "WHICH WAS STILL CELEBRATIN G OUR AMERICAN VICTORY" "ANDREI GROMYKO ROSE AND SAID THAT THE SOVIET UNION" "WHICH UNLIKE THE WESTERN POWERS" "WHICH HAD ABANDONED THE JEWISH PEOPLE" "TO ITS DARK AND FEARFUL FATE" "THE SOVIET UNION RECOGNIZE S THE STATE OF ISRAEL." "AND THEREFORE I WOULD SAY" "THAT THE ISSUE OF ISRAEL'S RECOGNITION WAS SOLVED" "Y" ". WITHIN A FEW HOURS OF OUR INDEPENDENCE DECLARATION" "Narrator:" "AFTER 2,000 YEARS OF EXILE" "THE JEWISH PEOPLE HAD A STAT E OF THEIR OWN." "BUT EVEN AS THEY DANCED" "ISRAEL'S FATE HUNG IN THE BALANCE." "THE DAY AFTER BEN GURION DECLARED THE STATE OF ISRAEL" "THE ARMIES OF EGYPT, JORDAN, IRAQ, AND SYRIA INVADED." "BUT THE LARGEST ARAB ARMY, THAT OF EGYPT" "HAD ONLY BEEN TESTED ON THE PARADE GROUND." "AT ITS HEAD WAS THE PLAYBO Y ON TKING FAROUK.OUND." "Sabit:" "THE KING HADN'T HAD" "ANY R." "NOBODY, IN FACT, HAD ANY EXPERIENCE OF WAR" "INCLUDING THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE EGYPTIAN ARMY, YOU SEE." "AT THE TIME, EUPHORIA REIGNE D IN THE ARAB RANKS." "THE BOYS WERE VERY PLEASED WITH THE WAR." "THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA" "BUT THEY HAD NO IDEA OF..." "OF THE LOGISTICS" "AND THE PROBLEMS THEY WERE GOING TO FACE." "Narrator:" "STILL, THE ARAB STATES, WITH A POPULATION OF 40 MILLION" ". LOOKED CERTAIN TO OVERWHEL M ISRAEL'S HALF MILLION JEWS" "IT SEEMED THAT BEN GURION' S NEW STATE" ". WOULD LAST ONLY A FEW DAYS" "WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE A PUSHOVER" "THAT THE JEWS WERE GOING TO RUN AWAY" "M THE MOMENT THEY SAW THE ARAB REGULAR ARMY UNIFOR" ". MOVING ON TO THEM WITH BAYONETS AND WHATEVER" "Narrator:" "EGYPT'S ARMY, ATTACKING FROM THE SOUTH" "HEADED TOWARDS THE MAIN JEWISH CENTER, TEL AVIV." "JORDAN'S ARAB LEGION TOOK THE WEST BANK" "AND THE OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM." "THE SYRIANS MOVED TOWARDS NAZARETH" "WHILE THE LEBANESE ATTACKE D FROM THE NORTH." "THE ARAB REGULAR ARMIES CONVERGED ON PALESTINE" "SUPERIOR IN NUMBERS AND EQUIPMENT." "EARLY IN THE WAR, THEY HAD A NUMBER OF VICTORIES." "WHENEVER THEY OVERRAN ISRAELI VILLAGES" "THE INHABITANTS WERE EITHER EXPELLED OR KILLED." "WAS FINALLY HALTED" "ONLY 20 MILES FROM TEL AVIV." "THE ISRAELIS WERE FIGHTING FOR THEIR SURVIVAL" "AND AFTER THREE WEEKS OF FIERCE RESISTANCE" "THEY BROUGHT THE ARABS TO A STANDSTILL." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "WE HAD NO AIRCRAFT, WE HAD NO TANKS" "AND WE WERE GOING INTO WAR THIS WAY." "WE HARDLY EVEN HAD GUNS." "WE WOULD TRY TO BUY GUNS AS MUCH AS WE COULD, ANYWHERE WE COULD." "IN THIS SITUATION WE WERE REALLY SAVED BY CZECHOSLOVAKIA" "THAT IS, RUSSIA." "AMERICA DIDN'T GIVE US ARMS." "WHEN THE..." "THE..." "THE WEAPONS CAME IN" "THE WHOLE BALANCE OF POWER CHANGED" "AND THE ISRAELIS WOULD THEN PASS ON TO THE OFFENSIVE." "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "WE WEREN'T EVEN MENTALLY PREPARED." "WE JUST WEREN'T READY." "SO OUR OFFICERS WERE CONFUSE D AND PANIC-STRICKEN." "Sabit:" "AND SO THE EGYPTIAN ARMY WAS SURROUNDED" "AND THEN THE JORDANIAN ARM Y JUST KEPT NEUTRAL" "DIDN'T INTERFERE IN ANY WAY." "FINALLY, OUR PRIME MINISTE R HERE IN EGYPT" "NOKRASHY PASHA" " WAS MURDERE D BY THE MOSLEM BROTHERS" "AND HIS SUCCESSOR SA"THERE'S NO FUTURE IN THIS WAR." "LET'S MAKE PEACE."" "Narrator:" "BUT THERE WAS NO PEACE, ONLY A CEASE-FIRE AGREEMENT." "THE ARABS BELIEVED" "A PEACE TREATY WOULD BE AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF DEFEAT." "BOTH SIDES MOURNED THEIR DEAD." "EVEN BEFORE THE CEASE-FIRE AGREEMENTS WERE SIGNED" "ISRAEL HELD ITS FIRST DEMOCRATIC ELECTION." "ISRAEL HELD ITS FIRST AND HIS LABOR PARTY WON.RION" "(crowd cheering, band playing)" "ISRAEL CELEBRATED THE TRIUMP H OF ITS ARMED FORCES." "BUT THE ARABS REFUSED TO RECOGNIZE" "ISRAEL'S RIGHT TO EXIST." "FOR THE ARABS, THE LEGACY OF THE '48 WAR" "WAS THE DISPLACEMENT OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE." "THE PALESTINIANS NOW FACED POLITICAL EXTINCTION." "THE WEST BANK WAS ANNEXED BY JORDAN" ". AND GAZA WAS RULED BY EGYPT, WHICH LEFT THEM WITH NOTHING" "EGYPT, THE MOST POWERFUL ARAB COUNTRY" "WAS SHAKEN BY THE DEFEAT." "A GROUP OF YOUNG OFFICERS, FRUSTRATED BY THE INCOMPETENCE" "OF THE KING AND THE NEW PRIME MINISTER" "PLOTTED A COUP." "I WENT TO THE PRIME MINISTER" "AND DELIVERED THE ULTIMATUM TO HIM." "HE WAS SHOCKED, BELIEVE ME" "BECAUSE UP TILL THIS MOMENT, HE DIDN'T KNOW" "THAT WE WERE GOING TO DETHRONE THE KING" " AT ALL." "HE WAS SHOCKED" "AND RECEIVED ME LIKE THIS." "I TOLD HIM YES." "HE SAID, "ARE YOU..." "ARE YOU..." "ARE YOU POWERFUL ENOH?"" "I TOLD HIM, "YES, GO AND DELIVER IT TO THE KING." "HE MUST LEAVE BY 6:00 THIS EVENING."" "Newsreel announcer:" "FROM CAIRO COME THESE FIRST AUTHENTIC PICTURES" "OF THE BLOODLESS COUP" "BY WHICH THE ARMY TOOK OVE R CONTROL OF EGYPT." "IT WAS THE END OF THE KING'S ATTEMPT TO MAINTAIN POWER." "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "AS WE TOOK THE KING TO THE SHIP, HE SAID:" ""YOU ATE ME FOR LUNCH" "BEFORE I COULD EAT YOU FOR DINNER."" "Narrator:" "EGYPT'S NEW LEADER, GAMAL ABDEL NASSER, PLEDGED RADICAL REFORM." "THERE WERE SIX PRINCIPLES:" "TO PUT AN END TO COLONIALISM , TO PUT AN END TO FEUDALISM" "TO CORRUPTED..." "OF EXPLOITATION BY CAPITALISM." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "I READ THAT NASSER WAS GOING TO YUGOSLAVIA." "I THOUGHT PRESIDENT TITO COULD HELP MAKE PEACE." "I KNEW A FRIEND OF TITO'S, I ASKED HIM TO GO TO YUGOSLAVIA." "I SAID, "GET TITO TO ASK NASSER IF HE WILL MAKE PEACE."" "(speaking Hebrew)" "(speTranslator:w) TITO PASSED ON THE MESSAGE ." "NASSER SAID THAT IF HE WAS SEEN TALKING TO ISRAEL" "HE WOULD BE OVERTHROWN, EVEN KILLED." "Narrator:" "SHARETT, BEN GURION'S FOREIGN MINISTER" "INITIATED MORE SECRET CONTACTS." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "SHARETT BELIEVED THE BEST WA Y" "TO ENSURE THE SECURITY OF ISRAEL" "WAS TO UNDERSTAND THE ARAB S AND NEGOTIATE PEACE." "S Narrator:" "SHARETT SENT DIVON TO PARI" "THE U.N. GENERAL ASSEMBLY' S TEMPORARY HOME." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "I TOLD A FRIEND I WAS ORDERE D TO PARIS TO MEET ARABS" "AND HE SAID, "ZIAMAH, I KNOW YOU LIKE CERVANTES" ""BUT I NEVER SAW YOU AS DON QUIXOTE." ""WILL YOU GO TO THEU PLACE DE LA CONCORDE AND SHOUT:" "'ANY ARABS HERE?" "'"" "king Arabic) 'ANY ARABS HERE?" "'"spea" "Translator:" "I WAS SITTING ON THE BALCONY OF THE U.N." "A YOUNG MAN CAME IN AND SAT NEXT TO ME." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "WE BEGAN TO TALK." "I SAID TO HIM, "MY DEAR SIR, I AM A JEW."" "I LOOKED IN HIS FACE." "I SAW NO SIGN OF EMBARRASSMENT." "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "SO I ASKED HIM, "WHO DO YOU REPRESENT?"" "WHEN I PRESSED HIM, HE SAID, "SHARETT."" "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "I SAID, "I AM AN ISRAELI WHO DREAMS OF PEACE WITH EGYPT."" "Narrator:" "FOR EGYPTIANS, TALKING TO ISRAELIS WAS TABOO" "SO ABDEL RAHMAN SADEK WAS NERVOUS" "WHEN HE WAS SUMMONED BY PRESIDENT NASSER." "(Sadek speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "I WENT IN AND I FOUND GAMAL ABDEL NASSER" "STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROOM." "HE SAID, "I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT YOU HAVE MY PERMISSION" "TO CONTINUE TALKS WITH THE ISRAELI IN PARIS."" "." "Narrator:" "THE DIPLOMAT'S REPORTS WER E TO BE FOR NASSER'S EARS ONLY" "(Sadek speaking Arabic)" "E Translator:" "HE SAID, "I WANT YOU TO SE" "IF THERE IS A CHANCE OF AVOIDING BLOODSHED."" "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "WHILE WE CONDUCTED THE TALKS WITH ABDEL RAHMAN" "THERE WAS ONCE IN A WHILE A RADICAL ESCALATION" "OF EGYPTIAN STATEMENTS ABOUT ISRAEL." "AN EGYPTIAN LEADER EVEN SAID" "D THAT ISRAEL WAS THE CANCER I N THE MIDST OF THE ARAB WORL" "AND WE ASKED HIM TO REFRAI FROM SUCH INFLAMMATORY LANGUAGE." "Narrator:" "NASSER'S ENVOY RETURNED TO PARIS WITH PROMISES TO TONE DOWN" "THE ANTI-ISRAELI PROPAGAND A ON CAIRO RADIO" "AND TO RESTRAIN THE GUERRILL A RAIDS AGAINST ISRAEL." "BUT NASSER WOULD NOT TERMINATE THE WAR" "NOR WOULD HE ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS" "OR ALLOW ISRAELI SHIPS THROUGH THE SUEZ CANAL" "AND THE STRAITS OF TIRAN." "SHARETT WAS DISAPPOINTED." "(speaking Hebrew)" "E Translator:" "SHARETT'S MESSAGE SAID THAT WE WERE SORRY, OF COURS" "THAT THE EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT CHANGE" "ITS OFFICIAL POLICY" "WHICH WAS A CLEAR ANTI-ISRAELI POLICY." "S Narrator:" "SHARETT'S REPEATED OFFERS TO START PEACE NEGOTIATION" "WERE TURNED DOWN." "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "I HAD REALIZED" "THAT THE ISRAELIS CONTINUOUSLY SAY THAT THEY WANT PEACE." "I REALIZED ALSO THAT THE ARABS REFUSED TO TALK." "Narrator:" "ISRAEL DESPERATELY NEEDED PEACE." "JEWISH REFUGEES FROM EUROP E AND ARAB COUNTRIES" "WERE STREAMING IN." ". ITS POPULATION DOUBLED DURING THE FIRST TWO YEARS" "ITS ECONOMY WAS IN RUINS." "NEW IMMIGRANTS WERE OFTEN SETTLED" "ALONG ISRAEL'S FRONTIERS." "THEY LIVED IN FEAR OF FREQUENT ARAB RAIDS." "BEN GURION BLAMED NASSER FOR THE RAIDS." "HE ORDERED THE ISRAELI ARM Y TO RETALIATE" "BY STRIKING ARAB COUNTRIES HARBORING INFILTRATORS." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "BEN GURION KNEW ARAB VILLAGERS SUPPORTED THESE TERRORISTS ." "WE HAD TO SHOW THEM THAT HELTERRORISTS WAS DANGEROUS" ". TO PROTECT OUR SETTLEMENTS" "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "I WAS CALLED TO SEE MOSHE DAYAN." "A MOTHER HAD BEEN KILLED, MURDERED ON A SETTLEMENT." "Narrator:" "THE MURDERERS LEFT TRACKS" "WHICH LED TO A VILLAGE ACROSS THE BORDER IN JORDAN." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "MY ORDERS WERE TO REACH THE VILLAGE IN JORDAN." "WE HAD TO BLOW UP AS MANY BUILDINGS AS POSSIBLE" "AND CAUSE AS MANY ARAB CASUALTIES AS POSSIBLE." "I announcer:" "THE TINY VILLAGE OF QIBYA AND CAUSE AS MANY ARAB CASUALTIES AS POSSIBLE.ree" "ON THE ISRAEL-JO IS IN R UINS" "AS DAZED SURVIVORS RELATE" "HOW TROOPS STRUCK ACROSSONTI ER AT NIGHT." "THEY ACCUSE ISRAELI FORCES OF LEVELING BUILDINGS" "WITH GRENADES, SHELLFIRE AND EXPLOSIVES" "TRAPPING ENTIRE FAMILIES IN THE RUBBLE." "THE ATTACK PROMPTS THE UNITE D STATES, ENGLAND AND FRANCE" "TO DELIVER THEIR SHARPEST REBUKE TO ISRAEL SINCE ITS FOUNDING" "AND TO DEMAND STERN ACTION TO PUNISH THE GUILTY TROOPS." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "AFTER THE OPERATION, I WAS CALLED TO SEE BEN GURION." "IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I'D MET HIM." "Ben Gurion:" "SHARON?" "WHAT I THINK ABOUT HIM?" "HE'S A NICE BOY..." "AND A GOOD SOLDIER." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "HE SAID ONE THING TO ME." "HE SAID, "IT DOESN'T MATTE R WHAT THE WORLD SAYS." ". "IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT ISRAEL ANYWHERE ELSE" ""THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS IS THAT WE CAN EXIST HERE." ""UNLESS IT'S CLEAR THAT THERE IS A PRICE TO PAY FOR JEWISH LIVES" "WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SURVIVE, AND THAT'S WHAT COUNTS."" "Narrator:" "BEN GURION WAS SUCH A BELIEVER" "IN THE IMPORTAE OF AGRICULTURAL SETTLEMENTS" "THAT HE ABANDONED THE PRIME MINISTERSHIP" "AND JOINED A KIBBUTZ THAT HE ABANDONED THE IN THE DESERT.SHIP" "WHO HOPED HE COULD ADVANCE ISRAELI SECURITY" "THROUGH DIPLOMACY." "BUT HIS MINISTER OF DEFENSE, PINCHAS LAVON" "BELIEVED IN MILITARY SOLUTIONS." "E QUITTING THEIR HUGE MILITARY BASE ON THE SUEZ CANAL." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "WE FEARED WE WOULD BE EXPOSE D TO AN ATTACK FROM EGYPT." "THE FACT THAT THE BRITISH ARMY WAS THERE SERVED AS A BUFFER." "IT REDUCED THE CHANCE OF AN EGYPTIAN ATTACK." "Narrator:" "ON HIS OWN, LAVON ORDERED PLANS FOR DESTABILIZING EGYPT" "AND FRIGHTENING THE BRITIS H INTO REMAINING." "LAVON SUMMONED THE DIRECTO R OF MILITARY INTELLIGENCE" "TO HIS HOME IN TEL AVIV." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "LAVON WOULD NOT STOP TALKING ABOUT THE NEED FOR ACTION." "HE SUGGESTED ALL SORTS Translator:" "LAVON WOULD NOT STOP TALKING ABOUT THOF SCHEMES.ACTION." "(continues in Hebrew)" "WE COOKED UP A PLAN TO HIT TARGETS IN EGYPT." "LAVON SAID, "GO AHEAD, ACTIVATE THE UNIT."" "E Narrator:" "IN EGYPT, ISRAELI MILITARY INTELLIGENC" "HAD RECRUITED YOUNG JEWS TO ACT AS SABOTEURS." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "I WAS READY TO DO ANYTHING TO HELP ISRAEL." "I WAS IDEALISTIC." "I WAS NAIVE." "Narrator:" "A CODE WORD BROADCAST" "DURING ISRAELI RADIO'S "HOUSEWIVES' CHOICE"" "WAS THE SIGNAL TO ACT." "(man speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "IN CAIRO, I WENT TO ONE CINEMA" "MY FRIEND WENT TO ANOTHER." "I PUT THE BOMB UNDER AN EMPTY SEAT." "Narrator:" "NO ONE WAS KILLED, AND THE SABOTEURS WERE ALL CAUGHT." ". THE NEWS WAS SPLASHED ACROSS EGYPTIAN NEWSPAPERS" ". SO I WENT TO SHARETT AND SAI D THE NEWS WAS SPLASHED ACROSS EGYPTIAN NEWSPAPERS" ""LOOK, THIS IS THE COMMUNIQU E FROM CAIRO." """ ". HE SAID, "NO, NO, NO, NO, NO" ""THIS IS NOT AUTHENTIC, IT?" "AN'T BE" ""BECAUSE HOW CAN SUCH A THING HAPPEN" "AND I, THE PRIME MINISTER, DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT IT?"" "Narrator:" "AFTER HE LEARNED OF LAVON'S ROLE" "SHARETT'S FIRST PRIORITY WAS" "OF THE YOUNG JEWS." "(Divon speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "MOSHE SHARETT CALLED ON ME ." "HE SAID, "THE CABINET IS WORRIED ABOUT THE PRISONERS IN EGYPT ." "WE MUST PREVENT DEATH SENTENCES."" "Narrator:" "IN A BID FOR MERCY, SHARETT SENT DIVON TO PARIS" "TO REVEAL THE TRUTH TO NASSER'S ENVOY." "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "DIVON TOLD ME" "THE PLOT WAS HATCHED IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENSE." "SHARETT HAD NO IDEA ABOUT IT ." "." "Narrator:" "NASSER'S RESPONSE WAS NOT WHAT SHARETT HAD HOPED FOR" "CAIRO, TWO OF THE SABOTEURS" "THE OTHERS WENT TO PRISON" "MARCELLE NINIO AND ROBERT DASSA FOR 15 YEARS." "SHARETT, IN HIS OFFICE THAT NIGHT, CONFIDED TO HIS DIARY" "THAT HE WAS LIVING THROUGH A NIGHTMARE:" ""IF I DO NOT REMOVE LAVON, I AM SUPPORTING SOMETHING ROTTEN" ""THAT WILL DESTROY THE DEFENSE MINISTRY AND ARMY COMMAND." ""IF I DO ACT, IT WILL DESTROY THE PARTY AND CAUSE A SCANDAL." "WHAT SHOULD I DO?"" "LAVON WAS DISMISSED FROM HIS POST AS DEFENSE MINISTER" "BUT THE DA WAS DONE." "EGYPT ALSO WAS PLAYING WITH FIRE." "IN GAZA, IT RECRUITED AND TRAINED PALESTINIANS" "FOR MILITARY ACTION." "(man speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "THEY PAID FOUR POUNDS A MONTH." "IN THOSE DAYS IT WAS A LOT OF MONEY." "SO IT WAS GOOD." "Narrator:" "THEY WERE SENT TO ISRAEL" "TO GATHER INTELLIGENCE AND COMMIT SABOTAGE." "(speaking Arabic)" "." "Translator:" "THEY WOULD SEE IF AN AIRPORT WAS BUILT AND COME BACK AND REPORT" "OTHERS WENT ON MILITARY OPERATIONS" "AND CARRIED OUT ATTACKS." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "THESE INFILTRATORS, THE FEDAYN" "WERE A TREMENDOUS SECURITY PROBLEM" "WERE A TREMENDOUS SECURITY PROBLEM THE SET TLERS ON THE BORDERS" "BUT ALSO IN THE CENTER OF THE COUNTRY." "THEY WERE ATTACKING PLACES FIVE KILOMETERS FROM TEL AVIV." "Narrator:" "THE FREQUENT ATTACKS AND THE LOSS OF LIVES" "WERE NOT ONLY A DISASTER FOR THE VICTIMS' FAMILIES." "THEY FOSTERED A PROFOUND SENSE OF HELPLESSNESS AMONG ISRAELIS." "THE GOVERNMENT SEEMED UNABLE TO PROTECT ITS OWN PEOPLE." "(wailing)" "ONLY ONE MAN COULD SATISFY THE PUBLIC'S DEMAND FOR ACTION." ". WITHIN MONTHS, BEN GURION WAS BACK AS PRIME MINISTER" "BY MID-1955, NASSER TURNED TO THE SOVIET BLOC" "FOR ECONOMIC AND MILITARY ASSISTANCE." "LICT NOW BECAME PART OF THE COLD WARCONF" "AND EGYPT RECEIVED A HUGE ARMS SHIPMENT FROM CZECHOSLOVAKIA." "NEW TANKS, ARTILLERY, BOMBERS AND JET FIGHTERS" "THREATENED TO RENDER THE ISRAELI ARMY" "AND ITS PROPELLER AIR FORC E OBSOLETE." "GENERAL MOSHE DAYAN WANTED TO STRIKE AT THE EGYPTIAN ARMY" "BEFORE IT COULD ABSORB ITS NEW WEAPONS" "BUT BEN GURION FELT ISRAEL COULD NOT FIGHT ALONE." "Rafael:" "BEN GURION BECAME MORE AND MORE CONVINCED" "THAT, UH, THERE IS NO DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION FOR THE CONFLICT" "AND BECAUSE OF THE ACCUMULATION OF ARMS IN EGYPT" "WE HAVE TO FORESTALL WAR TRIGGERED BY EGYPT." "Narrator:" "A FEW WEEKS LATER" "PRESIDENT NASSER NATIONALIZED THE SUEZ CANAL." "UNEXPECTEDLY, BEN GURION FOUND HIMSELF WITH TWO NEW ALLIES." "BRITAIN AND FRANCE HAD JOINTLY OWNED THE CANAL" "AND WANTED IT BACK." ". BEN GURION SENT SHIMON PERES TO A SECRET MEETING IN PARIS" "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "THE FRENCH DEFENSE MINISTE R TOLD ME" "BRITAIN AND FRANCE WERE PLANNING AN OPERATION" "TO TAKE THE SUEZ CANAL BACK FROM NASSER." "AND HE ASKED ME, "WOULD ISRAEL JOIN THEM?"" ""HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE ISRAELI TROOPS TO REACH THE CANAL?"" "Narrator:" "BEN GURION WAITED ANXIOUSLY FOR THE RETURN OF HIS EMISSARY." "(Peres speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "BEN GURION ASKED ME, "WELL, WHAT DID THE FRENCH SAY?"" "SO I BEGAN TO TELL HIM ABOUT THEIR PLAN." "HE INTERRUPTED AND SAID, "OKAY, THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING." "WE'LL GO WITH THEM."" "Narrator:" "ISRAEL INVADED EGYPT, SECRETLY SUPPORTED BY BRITAIN AND FRANCE." "WITHIN A WEEK, ISRAELI TROOPS HAD CAPTURED THE SINAI DESERT." "BRITAIN AND FRANCE TRIED TO RETAKE THE SUEZ CANAL" "UNTIL INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE FORCED THEM TO WITHDRAW." "." "Ben Gurion:" "WE ACHIEVED OUR MAIN PURPOSE" "THE MAIN PURPOSE WAS FREE NAVIGATION" "IN THE STRAITS OF EILAT, WHICH IS RATHER VITAL" "AT LEAST THEY HAVE BEEN UNTIL NOW." "THE SECOND OBJECTIVE WAS" "SECURE SAFETY FOR OUR SETTLEMENTS NEAR THE GAZA STRIP." "I CANNOT SAY WE'VE GOT IT ENTIRELY" "BUT THEY ARE MORE SAFE THAN THEY WERE BEFORE." "Narrator:" "THE ISRAELI FORCES WITHDREW FROM SINAI" "AND THE POSITIONS ALONG THE ISRAELI BORDER" "AND THE STRAITS OF TIRAN" "WERE GUARDED BY UNITED NATIONS FORCES." "FOR TEN YEARS" "R THERE WAS PEACE ALONG THE ISRAELI-EGYPTIAN BORDE" "UNDER THE U.N. FLAG." "Newsreel announcer:" "TROUBLE AND DEATH IN THE MIDDLE EAST." "THE FIGHTING ERUPTED QUICKLY WHEN SYRIANS ALLEGEDLY FIRED" "ON ISRAELI FARMERS OPERATING TRACTORS." "ISRAEL USED TANKS, MORTARS AND AIRCRAFT TO COUNTERATTACK." "ISRAELI PREMIER LEVI ESHKOL SAID" "FRIENDLY FOREIGN POWERS WILL UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION." "Narrator:" "IN MAY 1967, THE LEADERS O F THE SOVIET UNION TOOK A STEP" "THAT WOULD CHANGE THE MAP OF THE MIDDLE EAST." "E THEIR OWN ALLIES." "IT ALL BEGAN WITH A FALSE REPORT FROM SOVIET INTELLIGENCE." "ANWAR SADAT, SPEAKER OF THE EGYPTIAN PARLIAMENT" "WAS IN MOSCOW FOR TALKS WITH SOVIET PRIME MINISTER KOSYGIN." "IT WAS A ROUTINE TRIP." "EGYPT WAS NOW FIRMLY IN THE SOVIET CAMP." "SADAT WAS SEEN TO HIS PLANE BY THE DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER." "(man speaking Russian)" "Translator:" "THE MINISTER TOOK SADAT ASIDE." "HE SAID ISRAELI TROOPS WERE MASSING AGAINST SYRIA ." "HE ASKED HIM TO REPORT THI S AT ONCE TO NASSER." "Narrator:" "EGYPT'S PRESIDENT, GAMAL ABDEL NASSER" "WAS THE HERO OF THE ARAB WORLD." "IF ISRAEL WAS MASSING TROOPS ON THE SYRIAN BORDER" "NASSER WOULD BE EXPECTED TO ACT." "HE SENT FOR HIS CHIEF OF STAFF" "AND INSTRUCTED HIM TO FIND OUT WHAT THE ISRAELIS WERE UP TO." "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "I WENT TO A AND ISRAEL." "I FOUND NOTHING UNUSUAL, SO I ASKED TO SEE" "THE LATEST AERIAL PHOTOS OF THE BORDER AREA." "THEY SHOWED ME PHOTOS FROM THE PREVIOUS DAY" "AND THE DAY BEFORE THAT." "I STUDIED THEM, BUT I STILL FOUND NOTHING." "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "THE CHIEF OF STAFF FOUND NOTHING TO BACK UP THE SOVIET REPORT" "BUT THEN THE SOVIET AMBASSADOR CAME BACK TO US." "HE SAID SOVIET INTELLIGENC E HAD RECONFIRMED THEIR REPORT" "ISRAELI TROOPS REALLYWERE MASSING ON THE SYRIAN BORDER" "AND THE SITUATION WAS VERY DANGEROUS." " Narrator:" "SOVIET DIPLOMATS SPREAD TH E ALARM THROUGHOUT THE REGION" "EVEN IN ISRAEL" "AS THE PRIME MINISTER AND HIS WIFE SOON FOUND OUT." "(woman speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "IT WAS 2:30 IN THE MORNING ." "A SECRETARY CAME IN LOOKING SLEEPY." "HE SAID, "THE SOVIET AMBASSADOR IS DOWN IN THE LOBBY." ""HE'S ALL DRESSED UP, VERY FORMAL" "AND HE INSISTS ON SEEING THE PRIME MINISTER RIGHT NOW."" "I SAID TO ESHKOL, "LET'S RECEIVE HIM IN OUR PAJAMAS."" "(speaking Russian)" "Translator:" "OUR AMBASSADOR GAVE ESHKOL A TELEGRAM FROM KOSYGIN." "ESHKOL OFFERED TO GO TO MOSCOW" "TO DISCUSS THE REGIONAL SITUATION." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "THE AMBASSADOR WAS ANGRY:" "HE SAID, "YOU ARE MASSING YOUR TROOPS IN THE NORTH."" "ESHKOL SAID, "WE CAN GO THERE NOW." ""WE CAN GO TOGETHER TO THE GOLAN BORDER." "YOU'LL SEE WE HAVEN'T MOBILIZED ANYTHING."" "THE SOVIET AMBASSADOR SAID, "NO."" "Narrator:" "AT THAT TIME, SOVIET LEADERS BELIEVED" "THAT AMERICA WAS ON THE RU N IN VIETNAM." "SOME IN THE KREMLIN" "NOW SOUGHT TO WEAKEN AMERICA'S INFLUENCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST" "EVEN AT THE RISK OF ANOTHER REGIONAL WAR." "(speaking Russian)" "Translator:" "WE BELIEVED A WAR COULD BRING US POLITICAL GAINS." "EVEN A STALEMATE COULD BRING US BENEFITS." "EGYPT HAD OUR BACKING, BOTH POLITICAL AND MILITARY." "WE THOUGHT THEIR FORCES WOULD DEMONSTRATE" "THE BENEFITS OF SOVIET SUPPORT." "SO WE WERE CONFIDENT" "THAT THE BALANCE OF POWER IN THE MIDDLE EAST" "WOULD BE ALTERED BY A LOCALIZED WAR." "Narrator:" "IN CAIRO, NASSER HAD PUT HIS ARMED FORCES ON ALERT" "THE MOMENT HE RECEIVED THE SOVIET REPORT." "IF MOSCOW'S PLAN WAS TO PROVOKE A WAR, IT SEEMED TO BE WORKING." "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "THE RUSSIAN REPORT ESCALATED EVERYTHING." "WE FELT OBLIGED TO MOVE TROOPS INTO THE SINAI." "FROM THERE, WE COULD RETALIATE AGAINST ISRAEL" "IF ISRAEL ATTACKED SYRIA." "Translator:" "ABDEL NASSER DID NOT WANT A WAR WITH ISRAEL." "ABDEL NASSER WAS THINKING OF HIS IMAGE IN THE ARAB WORLD." "SO HE PUT ON A SHOW OF STRENGTH USING THE ARMED FORCES." "MARSHAL AMER WANTED TO ATTAC K ISRAEL RIGHT AWAY." "(speaking Arabic)" "THE ARAB MEDIA HAD BEEN CRITICIZING NASSER." "SOME COUNTRIES HAD ACCUSED ABDEL NASSER" "OF HIDING BEHIND THE UNITED NATIONS." "Narrator:" "SINCE THE SUEZ WAR OF 1956 , UNITED NATIONS TROOPS" "HAD PROVIDED A BUFFER ON THE BORDER BETWEEN EGYPT AND ISRAEL." "NOW NASSER ORDERED THEM OUT." "THE EYES OF THE WORLD FOCUSED ON A SMALL HARBOR" "AT THE EDGE OF THE SINAI DESERT, SHARM EL SHEIK." "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "HEADQUARTERS WANTED TO EXPEL" "THE U.N. TROOPS FROM SHARM EL SHEIK." "T I TOLD THEM, "IF WE DO THA" ""EGYPTIAN TROOPS WILL HAVE TO TAKE OVER AT SHARM EL SHEIK." ""WE WILL THEN BE OBLIGED TO CLOSE THE STRAITS OF TIRAN." "THAT WILL MEAN WAR."" "Narrator:" "A BLOCKADE AT THE STRAITS OF TIRAN BY EGYPT COULD LEAD TO WAR" "BECAUSE THE STRAITS, AT THE FOOT OF THE GULF OF AQABA" "CONTROLLED ISRAEL'S ONLY TRADE ROUTE" "TO THE EASTERN HALF OF THE WORLD." "NASSER, IN THE NAME OF ARAB SOLIDARITY" ". WAS GOING ON THE OFFENSIVE" "(Nasser speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "OUR ARMED FORCES ARE READY FOR WAR." "THE GULF OF AQABA BELONGS TO EGYPT." "THERE IS NO WAY" "THAT WE WILL ALLOW ISRAELI SHIPS TO PASS THROUGH." ". THE JEWS ARE THREATENING WAR" "WE TELL THEM, "HELLO AND WELCOME, WE ARE READY FOR WAR."" "BUT THERE IS NO WAY WE WILL GIVE UP OUR RIGHTS" "TO THE GULF OF AQABA." "(applause)" "Narrator:" "IN ISRAEL, THE PEOPLE PREPARED TO DEFEND THEMSELVES." "THEIR PRIME MINISTER, LEVI ESHKOL" "SUMMONED HIS CABINET AND MILITARY COMMANDERS." "(man speaking Hebrew)" "WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN" "I'M SURE THE SITUATION WILL DEVELOP INTO A WAR." "THE STRAITS ARE ACASUS BELLIFOR US" "AND I TOLD HIM FIRMLY" "THAT THIS WILL BE THEIR END, THIS WILL BE THEIR GRAVE." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "WE COMMANDERS TOLD HIM" ""WE HAVE NO CHOICE, WE HAVE TO MOBILIZE." ""WE HAVE TO LAUNCH AN ATTACK WITHIN 72 HOURS." ""IF WE GIVE THE EGYPTIANS MORE TIME" "THEY WILL PACK THE SINAI WITH MORE AND MORE DIVISIONS."" "Narrator:" "THE GENERALS SAW ISRAEL BECOMING INCREASINGLY VULNERABLE." "Eban:" "THE CHIEF OF STAFF, GENERAL RABIN, WAS VERY WORRIED." "HE SMOKED A GREAT NUMBER OF CIGARETTES" "AND HE ATE NEARLY ALL THE..." "THE NUTS AND RAISINS" "IN THE LITTLE BASKET THERE" "AND HE WAS VERY WORRIED BECAUSE" "NOT BECAUSE HE DOUBTED THE RESULT OF THE WAR" "BUT BECAUSE WE WERE REALLY VERY UNPREPARED FOR WAR." "Narrator:" "RABIN ASKED ABBA EBAN FOR A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION." "Eban:" "RABIN HAD SAID" "WE WERE REALLY NOT PREPARED FOR WAR" "AND, SECOND, THERE SHOULD STILL BE SOME ATTEMPT" "TO AVOID IT" ". BY EXERCISING WARNINGS AND PRESSURES UPON THE EGYPTIANS" "AND THEN MR. ESHKOL SENT ME A NOTE" "SAYING, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?"" "Narrator:" "PRIME MINISTER ESHKOL" "DISPATCHED ABBA EBAN TO SEEK THE HELP OF ISRAEL'S KEY ALLIES." "HE WANTED AN INTERNATIONAL FLEET" "TO KEEP THE STRAITS OPEN TO PREVENT WAR." "I'VE BEEN ASKED BY MY GOVERNMENT" "TO EXPLORE, UH..." "WHAT THESE GOVERNMENTS INTEND TO DO" "IN ORDER TO REOPEN THIS INTERNATIONAL WATERWAY" "TO A SITUATION OF LAW." "Reporter:" "WHAT DO YOU WANT THE U.S. TO DO?" "Y WELL, I'VE COME HERE REALL" "TO FIND OUT WHAT THE UNITED STATES INTENDS TO DO." "Narrator:" "PRESIDENT JOHNSON MADE IT CLEAR" "THAT HE DIDN'T WANT ISRAEL TO ATTACK FIRST." "Man:" "THE PRESIDENT HAD SAID TO DEAN RUSK AND ME" "AND I'M GOING TO SPEAK RATHER CRUDELY" ""GET EE"" ""SO WE CAN WORK HIM OVER."" "BECAUSE WE HAD HEARD" "THAT THE ISRAELIS WERE ABOUT TO PREEMPT" "THEY WERE ABOUT TO ATTACK THE EGYPTIANS." "Man:" "EBAN SPOKE TALKED AT GREAT LENGTH AND ELOQUENTLY." "HE ALWAYS SPOKE ELOQUENTLY" "AND HE ALWAYS SPOKE AT GREAT LENGTH." "BUT WHAT HE HAD TO SAY WAS VERY SIMPLE." "THIS WAS A MORTAL CRISIS FOR ISRAEL" "AND HE WANTED TO KNOW" "WHAT THE UNITED STATES WAS PREPARED TO DO." "THE PRESIDENT, HE SIMPLY EXPRESSED SKEPTICISM" "ABOUT THE IDEA THAT ISRAEL WAS IN DANGER." "HE SAID, "YOU ARE NOT IN DANGER." ""YOU ARE IN A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION" "BUT YOU ARE NOT IN PERIL."" "T Man:" "HE SAID TO EBAN, "WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT EGYP" ""IS ABOUT TO ATTACK ISRAEL ." "MOREOVER, IF IT DOES, YOU'LL LICK THEM."" "Narrator:" "TO MAKE THE POINT" "PRESIDENT JOHNSON ASKED FOR THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT'S ASSESSMENT" "OF THE LIKELY OUTCOME OF A MIDDLE EAST WAR." "McNamara WE HAD CONCLUDED" "THAT IF ISRAEL PREEMPTED, THEY COULD WIN..." "CLEARLY" "IN A PERIOD OF ABOUT SEVEN DAYS, AS I REMEMBER." "WE HAD ALSO ESTIMATED THAT IF THEY DID NOT PREEMPT" "AND EGYPT ATTACKED FIRST" "THAT IT WOULD TAKE SOMEWHAT LONGER" "PERHAPS TEN TO 14 DAYS." "Eban:" "THEN THE PRESIDENT TOOK OU T A PIECE OF PAPER" "T AND STARTED READING FROM I" "AS THOUGH THIS WAS SOME KIND OF A SACRED TEXT." "D AND WHAT THIS DOCUMENT SAI" "WAS ISRAEL WILL NOT BE ALONE UNLESS IT DECIDES TO BE ALONE." "IF YOU GO ALONE, YOU'LL STAND ALONE." "THAT WAS A VERY COLD-BLOODED STATEMENT." "WE WILL NOT COME TO YOUR DEFENSE IF YOU PREEMPT." "WECANNOTCOME TO YOUR DEFENSE IF YOU PREEMPT." "Narrator:" "AS ISRAEL RECEIVED ITS WARNING IN THE WHITE HOUSE" "AN EGYPTIAN DELEGATION WAS HEADING TOWARDS THE KREMLIN." "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "WE DIDN'T EVEN SEE MOSCOW." "STRAIGHT INTO THE KREMLIN." "Narrator:" "THE EGYPTIANS WERE SELF-ASSURED." "Translator:" "SHAMS BADRAN EXUDED CONFIDENCE." "HE SAID THAT IF WAR CAME" "COULD HANDLE IT." "IN FACT, HE DESCRIBED THE ARMY LIKE A WILD HORSE RARING TO GO." "Narrator:" "BUT THE SOVIETS WARNED THE EGYPTIANS" "NOT TO BE SEEN AS THE AGGRESSORS." "(man speaking Russian)" "D Translator:" "PRIME MINISTER KOSYGIN SAI" ""TELL NASSER IF HE STRIKES FIRST" ""HE WILL ESCALATE THE CONFLICT, HE WILL PROVOKE THE SUPERPOWERS." "AMERICA WILL NOT STAND ASIDE."" "(speaking Arabic)" "I SAID, "WE UNDERSTAND" "BUT CLOSING THE STRAITS ISN'T AN ATTACK ON AMERICA."" "Narrator:" "THE SOVIETS MADE IT CLEAR THEY MEANT WHAT THEY SAID." "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "WE ASKED ABOUT THE ARMS CONTRACTS H THEM." "WE ASKED IF THEY WOULD HURRY THINGS UP" "ESPECIALLY SOME SPARE PART S WE NEEDED FOR OUR PLANES." "WE COULD HAVE TAKEN THEM WITH US IN A BAG." "Translator:" "THEY WERE ALWAYS ASKING FOR ARMS." "EVERY HIGH-LEVEL DELEGATIO N WOULD ASK FOR ARMS" "INCLUDING BADRAN." "Translator:" "THEY DID NOT REFUSE TO SUPPLY THE ARMS." "THEY JUST CLAIMED THEY HAD NONE." "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "I WAS REALLY SHOCKED." "I THOUGHT, "HOW CAN OUR SOVIET FRIENDS TREAT US LIKE THIS?"" "WAR WAS AT OUR DOORSTEP." "Narrator:" "NASSER GOT THE MESSAGE:" "THE SOVIETS WOULD BACK HIM" "ONLY IF HE DID NOT APPEAR TO BE THE AGGRESSOR." "HIS COMMANDERS WERE INSTRUCTED TO STAY ON THE DEFENSIVE" "READY TO ABSORB AN ISRAELI ATTACK." "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "THE AIR FORCE CHIEF JUMPED UP." "HE SAID, "IT WILL BE CRIPPLING."" "HE SAID, "MR. PRESIDENT, THE FIRST STRIKE WILL BE CRIPPLING!"" "HE SAID IT IN ENGLISH." "HE MEANT THAT A FIRST STRIKE BY ISRAEL" "WOULD CRIPPLE OUR AIR FORCE." "THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF TOLD HIM" ""IF YOU LET THEM STRIKE FIRST, YOU WILL FIGHT ONLY ISRAEL" ""BUT IF YOU STRIKE FIRST" "YOU WILL HAVE TO FIGHT ISRAEL AND AMERICA."" "Crowd (chanting):" "NASSER!" "NASSER!" "NASSER!" "NASSER!" "Narrator:" "BUT THE WAR FEVER IN CAIRO HAD BECOME UNSTOPPABLE." "POPULAR HATRED OF ISRAEL" "WHICH NASSER DID NOTHING TO DISCOURAGE" "NOW SWEFORWARD AND DROVE OTHER ARAB RULERS TO HIS SIDE." "R EVEN KING HUSSEIN OF JORDAN, FOR YEARS AT ODDS WITH NASSE" "DECIDED HE COULD NO LONGER STAND ALOOF." "Hussein:" "IN THE MORNING, I GOT INTO MY AIRCRAFT" "AND FLEW IT TO CAIRO." "AND I WAS MET BY THE PRESIDENT." "I WAS IN MILITARY FATIGUES WITH MY GUN ON." "AND HE SAID, "WELL I SEE YOU ARE CARRYING A GUN."" "I SAID, "I'VE BEEN LIKE THAT" "FOR THE LAST FEW DAYS WITH MY TROOPS."" "AND THEN HE MADE A STRANGE REMARK:" ""WHAT WOULD HAPPENLY TOOK YO U PRISONER" "AND DENIED ALL KNOWLEDGE OF YOUR ARRIVING IN THIS COUNTRY?"" "Narrator:" "SOON AFTER" "KING HUSSEIND A MUTUAL DEFENSE TREATY WITH NASSER" "AND AGREED TO PUT HIS ARMY UNDER EGYPTIAN COMMAND." "WE WERE ON THE VERGE OF A..." "OF A WAR" "THEREFORE ANY RESERVATIONS I HAD IN THE PAST" "TO ANY TROOPS COMING INTO JORDAN" "WERE REMOVED, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED." "Narrator:" "SO ISRAEL FACED THE PROSPECT OF WAR ON THREE FRONTS:" "FROM JORDAN IN THE EAST" "FROM SYRIA IN THE NORTH" "AND FROM EGYPT IN THE SOUTH." "Narkiss (translated):" "THAT WAS THE TIME" "WHEN AUSCHWITZ CAME UP." "IT NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE." "WHEN PEOPLE SPOKE" "THEY SAID THERE WAS A FEELIN G WE ARE SURROUNDED" "WE ARE SURROUNDED, NO ONE WILL HELP US, NO ONE IS HELPING US" "AND GOD FORBID IF THE ARABS ARMIES INVADE US." "THEY'LL KILL US ALL." "Narrator:" "BY THIS POINT" "ISRAEL HAD BEEN MOBILIZED FOR MORE THAN TWO WEEKS." "ALL MALES AGED 18 TO 55 WERE CALLED TO SERVE." "MOST VEHICLES WERE REQUISITIONED" "MOST FACTORIES CLOSED." "ISRAEL COULD NOT STAY FULLY MOBILIZED FOR LONG." "BUT STILL, PRIME MINISTER ESHKOL WAITED" "FOR THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO DO SOMETHING." "HE CAME TO MILITARY HEADQUARTERS" "TO REMIND HIS GENERALS OF AMERICA'S WARNING" "ISRAEL MUST NOT GO IT ALONE." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "HE TOLD US THAT THEY WERE MAKING" "DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS IN THE U.S. AND EUROPE." "THEY WERE TRYING TO REACH A DEAL WITH NASSER." "IT MADE NO SENSE TO US." "Narrator:" "FLANKED BY RABIN, ESHKOL FOUND HIMSELF SURROUNDED" "BY GENERALS INSISTING ON A PREEMPTIVE STRIKE." "(Narkiss speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "GENERAL PELED WAS USUALLY PRETTY QUIET." "NOW HE WAS SHOUTING." "HE WAS ACTUALLY SHRIEKING." ""WHY DO YOU HESITATE?"" "HY ARE YOU AFRAID?" "WHY DO YOU HESITATE?" "W" "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "I SAID, "ESHKOL, YOU HAVE THE BEST ARMY SINCE KING DAVID." ""IF YOU DON'T ATTACK, YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGIVEN ." "Narrator:" "TO REGAIN THE CONFI OF HIS G ENERALS" "PRIME MINISTER ESHKOL APPOINTED A NEW MINISTER OF DEFENSE" "MOSHE DAN, HERO OF THE 1956 SUEZ WAR." "OF COURSE, THE NUMBER OF THEIR FORCES IS BIGGER THAN OURS" "BUT STILL I HOPE THAT WE CAN MAKE IT, BUT MUCH DEPENDS" "VERY MUCH DEPENDS-- UPON WHERE THE BATTLE IS." "Narrator:" "THE GENERALS ALSO ASKED" "FOR ANOTHER ENVOY TO BE SENT TO WASHINGTON." "THE PRIME MINISTER AGREED." "HE SAID, "LISTEN, MEIR, YOU GO TO WASHINGTON" ""AND FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON THERE." ""ARE THE AMERICANS ORGANIZIN G A NAVAL TASK FORCE?" ""IS ANYBODY GOING TO DO ANYTHING?" "WHEN?"" "Narrator:" "AMIT'S MISSION WAS TO SEE" "IF THE AMERICANS PLANNED TO OPEN THE STRAITS OF TIRAN" "OR IF ISRAEL WOULD HAVE TO ACT ALONE." "THE PENTAGON HAD QUITE ENOUG H TROUBLE IN VIETNAM" "AND DIDN'T WANT ANOTHER WAR." "Translator:" "THE DIRECTOR OF THE C.I.A. MADE IT PERFECTLY CLEAR." "THERE IS NO INTERNATIONAL NAVAL FORCE." "THERE ARE NO AMERICAN PLAN S FOR ACTION." "THERE IS NO TASK FORCE." "Narrator:" "SO THE HEAD OF THE MOSSAD, ISRAEL'S INTELLIGENCE AGENCY" "ETARY OF DEFENSE." "Translator:" "I SAID TO HIM, "YOU KNOW OUR SITUATION." "I AM HERE ON THE INSTRUCTION OF MY PRIME MINISTER."" "HE WAS DOING MOST OF THE TALKING." "I DID ASK ONE OR TWO QUESTIONS." "Translator:" "AT THE MEETING, I REALIZED THAT AMERICA, BECAUSE OF VIETNAM" "WAS UNWILLING TO ACT ALONE , AND THEY DID NOT SUCCEED" "IN ORGANIZING THE INTERNATIONAL NAVAL FORCE." "ALSO, EISENHOWER MADE A COMMITMENT" "TO ISRAEL ABOUT THE STRAITS IN 1956." "SO AMERICA WOULD NO LONGER OPPOSE ISRAEL ACTING ON ITS OWN." "I WAS FRIENDLY DURING MY DISCUSSION" "AND FRIENDLY AS HE LEFT" "BUT HE DIDN'T ASK FOR ANSWERS, HE GOT NO ANSWERS." "Narrator:" "AMIT RACED BACK TO ISRAEL" "TO REPORT TO THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE CABINET" "NOT TO EXPECT INTERNATIONAL HELP." "Translator:" "I GAVE A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF MY TRIP TO WASHINGTON, AND I SAID" ""I RECOMMEND WE LAUNCH THE WAR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE."" "NOT ONE OF THE MINISTERS DISAGREED." "(Miriam Eshkol speaking Hebrew)" "TranslatOUR USUAL WALK." "SUDDENLY ESHKOL STARTS HUMMING." "HE WAS COMPLETELY TONE DEAF." "HE HAD THIS HASSIDIC SONG HE LIKED TO SING." "HE SANG IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN." ""THE RABBI HAS TOLD US TO ENJOY OURSELVES" "BECAUSE HARD TIMES ARE COMING."" "(Miri Eshkol singing in Yiddish)" "SO I ASKED HIM, "WHAT'S HAPPENING, DEAREST?"" ". AND HE TOLD ME, "TOMORROW THE WAR WILL START" ""THERE WILL BE WIDOWS." ""THERE WILL BE ORPHANS." ""THERE WILL BE BEREAVED PARE" "WHO KNOWS WHAT TOMORROW WILL BRING."" "Narrator:" "THE GENERALS CHOSE THE MORNING OF JUNE 5 FOR THE ATTACK." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "THE CHIEF OF STAFF AND I TOOK A DECISION." "ON THE NIGHT OF JUNE 4, WE WOULD SLEEP AT HOME." "THE TOM-TOMS IN ISRAEL WOR K LIKE IN THE JUNGLE." "IF THE CHIEF OF STAFF AND AIR FORCE CHIEF BOTH COME HOME" "WORD GETS AROUND THAT TOMORROW IS GOING TO BE QUIET." "THAT WAS THE COMMANDERS' BEDTIME MESSAGE." "Narrator:" "LEAVING BEHIND ONLY 12 FIGHTERS TO DEFEND ISRAEL 180 AIRCRAFT TOOK OFF FOR EGYPT." "THEIR TARGET WAS 45 MINUTES AWAY." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "WE OBSERVED TOTAL RADIO SILENCE." "WE FLEW AT THE HEIGHT OF THE WAVES FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES." "WE FLEW LOW OVER THE SAND DUNES." "WE CROSSED THE SUEZ CANAL AT KANTARA AND ENTERED THE DELTA." "AS WE FLEW OVER THE DELTA, FARMERS WAVED TO US." "THEY PROBABLY THOUGHT WE WERE EGYPTIAN." "Narrator:" "MOST OF THE ISRAELI SQUADRON FLEW OUT TO SEA FAR TO THE WEST." "THEY HAD EXTRA FUEL TANKS" "TO ENABLE THEM TO APPROACH EGYPT'S AIR BASES" ". FROM AN UNEXPECTED DIRECTION" "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "THAT WAS THE LONGEST 45 MINUTES IN MY LIFE." "THE HANDS ON MY WATCH DIDN'T SEEM TO MOVE." "THEY WENT VERY SLOWLY." "Narrator:" "AS THE ISRAELI BOMBERS APPROACHED THEIR TARGETS" "THE EGYPTIANS RECEIVED A CODED MESSAGE FROM JORDAN." "Noufal (translated):" "THEY SPOTTED ISRAELI PLANE S HEADING TOWARDS US" "SO THEY SENT US A SIGNAL FRO M THEIR RADAR BASE TO WARN US." "THE SIGNAL WAS IN CODE." "OUR CODES HAD CHANGED THE DAY BEFORE" "AND WE HAD REAL TROUBLE DECODING IT." "Translator:" "THE MINISTRY OF DEFENSE ASKE D THE AIR DEFENSE PEOPLE" "WHAT THEY HAD DONE WITH THE SIGNAL THEY HAD RECEIVED ." "" IT HAD THE CODE WORD "GRAPE." "THEY REPLIED, "WHAT SIGNAL?"" ". T 0745, WE PULLED UP TO 6,000 FEET" "I LOOKED DOWN" ". AND SAW THE MIGS GLINTING ON THE EDGES OF THE RUNWAY" "THE PILOTS WERE SITTING INSIDE THE COCKPITS." "I KNEW WE HAD CAUGHT THEM BY SURPRISE." "Narrator:" "THE ISRAELIS BEGAN THEIR ATTACK BY DESTROYING THE RUNWAYS" "TO PREVENT THE EGYPTIAN AIRCRAFT FROM TAKING OFF." "THE FEW THAT DID GET OFF THE GROUND" "WERE NO MATCH FOR E ISRAELI FIGHTERS." "(gunfire)" "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "I GOT A CALL FROM ONE OF THE AIR FORCE CHIEFS." "HE SAID, "NOUFAL, NOUFAL."" "I SAID, "YES, SIR?"" "HE SAID, "OUR AIRFIELDS ARE BEING ATTACKED."" "I SAID, "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?"" "HE SAID, "OUR AIRFIELDS ARE BEING ATTACKED."" "I SAID, "OUR AIRFIELDS?"" "HE SAID, "THE AIRFIELDS IN THE SINAI ARE BEING ATTACKED."" "I SAID, "ALL THE SINAI AIRFIELDS?" "TELL ME IT'S NOT TRUE."" "AND HE SAID, "BELIEVE ME" "ALL THE AIRFIELDS ARE BEING ATTACKED."" "I HUNG UP, THE PHONE RANG AGAIN." "HE SAID, "WE'RE BEING ATTACKED."" ". SO I SAID TO MYSELF, WELL, SOMETHING MUST BE GOING ON" "BUT I WAS ALL ALONE." "Narrator:" "HE WAS ALONE BECAUSE THE HEA D OF THE EGYPTIAN ARMED FORCES" "MARSHAL AMER, HAD LEFT WITH THE MINISTER OF WAR" ". AND HIS TOP BRASS TO INSPECT THEIR POSITIONS IN THE SINAI" "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "TEN MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, WE HEARD ABOUT THE ISRAELI ATTACK." "WE TURNED AROUND AND FLEW BACK." "OUR CARS HAD GONE." "WE HAD TO HAIL A TAXI TO GET BACK TO HEADQUARTERS." "Narrator:" "BY THE TIME MARSHAL AMER'S TAXI GOT HIM BACK TO HEADQUARTERS" "EGYPT'S AIR FORCE WAS DESTROYED." "(speaking Arabic)" "." "Translator:" "MARSHAL AMER WAS PANICKING" "F HE TOLD THE AIR FORCE CHIE" "TO IMPLEMENT THE COUNTERATTACK PLAN." "D THE AIR FORCE CHIEF REPLIE" ""HOW CAN I?" "I HAVE NO AIRCRAFT."" "L Narrator:" "IN THE SINAI, EGYPT HAD THRE E TIMES AS MANY TANKS AS ISRAE" "BUT WITH NO AIR COVER, THEIR SITUATION WAS DIRE." "Translator:" "MARSHAL AMER TOLD ME" ". "DRAW UP A PLAN OF RETREAT" "BRING THE TROOPS BACK ACROSS THE CANAL."" "Narrator:" "MARSHAL AMER HAD BEEN A CLOS E FRIEND OF PRESIDENT NASSER" "FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS." "THEY HAD FOUGHT TOGETHER AS YOUNG OFFICERS." "TOGETHER THEY HAD PLANNED" "THE COUP WHICH BROUGHT DOW N THE EGYPTIAN MONARCHY." "NOW THE DEFEATED PRESIDENT" "PHONED HIS DEFEATED ARMY COMMANDER." "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "I WAS THE ONLY OTHER PERSON THERE." "AMER WAS IN TEARS." "HE WAS CALLING NASSER BY HIS FIRST NAME." "HE SAID, "LET ME BRING OUR BOYS BACK SAFELY, GAMAL."" "WHEN HE PUT THE PHONE DOWN I ASKED, "WHY ARE YOU CRYING?"" "HE TOLD ME NASSER HAD SAID , "FORGIVE ME, HAKIM." ". "I CAUSED THIS CATASTROPHE" "FORGIVE ME, HAKIM."" "ABDEL NASSER HAD BEEN CRYING, TOO." "Narrator:" "MARSHAL AMER DIDN'T WAIT" "FOR HIS CHIEF OF STAFF TO PLAN A RETREAT." "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "THE ORDER WAS WITHDRAW BACK ACROSS THE CANAL." ". LEAVE THE ARTILLERY BEHIND" "Narrator:" "MARSHAL AMER'S ORDER WAS A DISASTER." "WITH NO PLAN" ". HIS RETREATING UNITS COULD NOT PROTECT EACH OTHER" "THE ISRAELIS GAVE CHASE." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "OUR TANKS HAD EGYPTIAN TANKS IN FRONT AND BEHIND THEM." "WE ATTACKED THEM FROM THE GROUND AND FROM THE AIR." "THOUSANDS WERE DESTROYED." "THEY WERE ALL BURNING." "IT WAS A TERRIBLE SIGHT." "Narrator:" "IS WERE KILLED" "BUT THE EGYPTIANS DEAD NUMBERED 15,000." "Narrator:" "DAYS EARLIER WHEN THE WAR HAD BEGUN" "THE ISRAELIS HAD CONTACTED THE KING OF JORDAN." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "WE DID NOT PLAN TO TAKE JERUSALEM OR THE WEST BANK ." "WE DID NOT PLAN TO TAKE THE GOLAN." "ON THE FIFTH, WE SENT A TELEGRAM" "THROUGH THE AMERICANS TO KING HUSSEIN" "TELLING HIM THAT THE WAR WAS BETWEEN IANS." "IF JORDAN STAYED OUT, NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN." "BUT AT ABOUT 10:30, HE STARTED SHELLING JERUSALEM." "Translator:" "TEDDY KOLLECK, THE MAYOR OF JERUSALEM" "ASKED ME AT THE COMMAND POST" "WHAT SHOULD HE DO WITH THE CHILDREN" "IN THE KINDERGARTENS AND SCHOOLS." "Translator:" "IN THE COMMAND POST, WE LOOKED AT EACH OTHER." ". WE SAID, "THIS IS NOT NICE" "WE'LL TAKE ON HUSSEIN."" "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF CALLED ME." "HE SAID, "UZI, YOU ARE AUTHORIZED" ""TO ENTER THE OLD CITY." "YOU HAVE TO BE QUICK AND USE YOUR HEAD."" "(explosion)" "Narrator:" "IT TOOK THE ISRAELIS TEN HOURS OF BITTER STREET FIGHTING" "TO DEFEAT THE JORDAN LEGIO SOLDIERS DEFENDING THE OLD CITY." "L ONCE THE TROOPS HAD BROKEN THROUGH TO THE WAILING WAL" "KEEPING THE CITY UNITED UNDER ISRAEL'S RULE" "BECAME THE BASIC GOAL OF THE GOVERNMENT." "WHEN THE BATTLE ENDED" "JORDAN HAD LOST NOT ONLY THE OLD CITY" "BUT ALL THE LAND ON THE WEST BANK OF THE JORDAN RIVER." "Hussein:" "I WENT OUT TO THE FRONT AND I COULD SEE PEOPLE" "CROSSING OVER IN SMALL GROUPS, VERY TIRED." "YOU KNOW, ALL THE YEARS THAT I HAD SPENT SINCE 195" "TRYING TO BUILD THAT COUNTRY AND BUILD THAT ARMY" "ALL THE PRIDE, ALL THE HOPES , I SAW IT JUST DESTROYED." "I NEVER RECEIVED A MORE CRUSHING BLOW THAN THAT." "Interviewer:" "MR. PRIME MINISTER, DOES ISRAEL WISH" "ANY TERRITORY" "BEYOND THE TERRITORY SHE NOW HOLDS?" "NO, SIR..." ", SIR." "WE DON'T NEED ANY ADDITIONAL TERRITORY." "WE WANT ONLY TO DEVELOP THIS TERRITORY THAT WE HAVE." "THERE IS SO MUCH TO PUT IN , ENERGY AND MONEY" "AND, AND BRAINS THAT WE HAVE A LITTLE, LITTLE..." "UH, BUT WE DON'T WANT ANY ADDITIONAL TERRITORY." "Narrator:" "WITH JORDAN AND EGYPT DEFEATED, ISRAEL TURNED ITS MIGHT" "ON THE GOLAN HEIGHTS, THE SITE OF FREQUENT ATTACKS FROM SYRIA." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "DAYAN SAID, "WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THE GOLAN NOW."" "I REMEMBER THAT SOME MINISTERS FROM THE RELIGIOUS PARTIES" "WERE OPPOSED TO THIS." "DAYAN WAS ADAMANT." "HE SAID, "WE'RE NOT GOING TO LOSE TIME." "H "I'VE DELAYED IT THIS LONG BECAUSE WE WANTED TO FINIS" "AND JORDANIANS."" "(spea) slator:" "WE THREW EVERYTHING WE HAD AT THE GOLAN HEIGHTS." "IN 12 HOURS, WE DROPPED MORE BOMBS ON THE GOLAN" ". THAN WE HAD ON ALL THE EGYPTIAN AIRFIELDS" "ROCKETS, BOM, NAPALM, EVERYTHING WE HAD." "Narrator:" "THE WHOLE WAR HAD BEEN SPARKED BY A FALSE SOVIET REPORT" "OF A THREAT TO SYRIA." "NOW THAT ISRAEL WAS ACTUALLY ATTACKING SYRIA" "THE SOVIETS WERE FORCED TO REACT." "WORD CAME THROUGH, THE HOTLINE WAS UP" "AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS ABOUT" "BECAUSE I..." "I THOUGHT THA T THE WAR WAS PRETTY WELL OVER ." "NEVERTHELESS, I WENT BACK IMMEDIATELY TO THE WHITE HOUSE." "THE USUAL SUSPECTS WERE THERE, McNAMARA AND THE REST" "AND WE HAD A RATHER HAIRY MESSAGE FROM THE RUSSIANS." "R McNamara:" "THE SOVIETS MADE VERY CLEA" "THEY WOULD INTERVENE MILITARILY." "AND VERY LIKELY THEY WOULD NOT ONLY TURN ISRAEL BACK" "FROM ITS ATTACK ON SYRIA, BUT THEY WOULD JOIN SYRIA" "IN AN EFFORT TO DEAL A MORTAL BLOW TO ISRAEL." "IT WAS A VERY, VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION." "Narrator:" "THE SOVIETS DID NOT SEEM TO BE BLUFFING." "STRATEGIC BOMBER COMMAND IN THE UKRAINE HAD RECEIVED ORDERS" "TO PREPARE FOUR SQUADRONS TO FLY TO THE BATTLE ZONE." "(man speaking Russian)" "Translator:" "IT WAS ALL ARRANGED IN A GREAT HURRY." "WE WERE GIVEN STRICT INSTRUCTIONS" "NOT TO SUFFER ANY CASUALTIES ." "THE LOSS OF EVEN O" ". WOULD BETRAY OUR INVOLVEMENT" "BUT WE SAW THIS WAS UNREALISTIC" "SO WE HAD TO FIND ANOTHER WAY." "Narrator:" "THE PILOTS WERE THEN ORDERED T LEAVE BEHIND ALL IDENTIFICATION." ". THEIR PLANES WERE TO BE REPAINTED IN EGYPTIAN COLORS" "Translator:" "OUR RED STARS ARE ONLY ONE COLOR" " RED." ". BUT IT TURNED OUT THAT NOW W E NEEDED FOUR DIFFERENT COLORS" "D I REMEMBER GREEN AND BLACK AND SOMETHING ELSE, MAYBE RE" "BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE THE RIGHT COLORS" ". SO THAT CAUSED A LOT OF FUSS" "Narrator:" "IN THE WHITE HOUSE SITUATION ROOM" "PRESIDENT JOHNSON AND HIS STAFF WORKED OUT THEIR RESPONSE" "TO THE SOVIET ULTIMATUM." "THE PRESIDENT SENT A MESSAGE OVER THE HOTLINE" "TELLING THE KREMLIN THAT HE WAS USING "EVERY MEANS"" "TO GET THE ISRAELIS TO STOP THE WAR." ". THIS WAS NOT STRICTLY TRUE" "D ALTHOUGH HE COULD HAVE PHONE" "THE ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER DIRECTLY" "HE PHONED THE ISRAELI AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N. INSTEAD." "Rafael:" "UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR GOLDBERG ASKED ME" "TO COME OUT INTO THE LOBBY AND TO SEND, TO SAY TO ME" "YOU MUST IMMEDIATELY, IMMEDIATELY ANNOUNCE" "THAT THE FIGHTING IS OVER." "Narrator:" "THIS WAS NOT WITHIN THE ISRAELI AMBASSADOR'S POWER" "SO HE ASKED HIS BOSS, ABBA EBAN, TO PHONE THE PRIME MINISTER." "BUT ESHKOL WAS WITH HIS GENERALS ON THE GOLAN HEIGHTS." "(Miriam Eshkol speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "SUDDENLY ABBA EBAN CALLS AND SAYS" ""TELL ESHKOL TO STOP THE WAR ." "WE'RE UNDER TERRIBLE PRESSUR E HERE AT THE UNITED NATIONS."" "THEN ESHKOL CALLS ME, AND HE SAYS" ""AH, THIS GOLAN IS ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC." "THE VIEW IS WONDERFUL."" "HE WAXES LYRICAL ABOUT IT." "HE CAN'T TAKE TH" "HE SAID, "I CAN'T HEAR YOU."" ""WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU CAN'T HEAR ME?" "I'M TELLING YOU IN EBAN'S EXACT WORDS."" "HE SAYS, "I CAN'T HEAR YOU , I CAN'T HEAR YOU." ""IT'S A BAD LINE, IT'S A BAD LINE." "I'LL COME HOME AND THEN WE'LL TALK."" "AND THEN I UNDERSTOOD." "THEY WANTED R SOME MORE KILOMETERS." "Narrator:" "THE ISRAELIS PRESSED ON SOINTO THE GOLANTERS." "AND ENCOUNTERED NO SOVIET FORCES" "BECAUSE PRESIDENT JOHNSON HAD RAISED THE STAKES." "Rostow:" "HE ASKED McNAMARA" "WHAT DISTANCE FROM THE SYRIAN COAST" "THE FLEET, AMERICAN FLEET WAS AT THE TIME" "AND HE SAID 100 MILES." "IT WAS STEAMING TOWARD..." "TOWARDS GIBRALTAR" "ON A TRAINING EXERCISE." "WE TURNED IT AROUND." "AND THE PRESIDENT SAID, "MOVE THEM TO WITHIN 50 MILES"" "KNOWING THAT THE FLEET WAS SHADOWED" ". BY SOVIET ELECTRONIC SHIPS , AND THEY WOULD KNOW DIRECTLY" "THAT WAS ALSO PART OF THE MESSAGE." "(speaking Russian)" "Translator:" "SO OUR SECRET INVASION BY THE BACK DOOR NEVER HAPPENED." "THANK GOD FOR THAT." "D Narrator:" "THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT WAITE" "UNTIL THEIR FORCES HAD ACHIEVED THEIR OBJECTIVE" "BEFORE GIVING THE ORDER TO HALT." "M A COLLEAGUE OF MINE FROM THE FOREIGN MINISTRY IN JERUSALE" "T CALLED ME TO GIVE ME THE TEX" "OF AN AGREED STATEMENT ON CEASE-FIRE." "L Rafael:" "ISRAEL ACCEPTS ANY PROPOSA" "MADE BY GENERAL BULL FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION" "OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL CEASE-FIRE RESOLUTION" "AND THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SUPERVISION OF THE CEASE-FIRE." "Rafael:" "I READ THIS STATEMENT" "SLOWLY TRANSLATING IT FROM HEBREW INTO ENGLISH" "AND THAT WAS THE END OF THE WAR." "S Narrator:" "IN SIX DAYS, THE ARMED FORCE" "HAD QUADRUPLED THE TERRITORY ISRAEL CONTROLLED." "FROM SYRIA, THEY HAD TAKEN THE GOLAN HEIGHTS" "M FROM JORDAN, THE WEST BANK AND THE OLD CITY OF JERUSALE" "FROM EGYPT, GAZA AND THE SINAI." "WITH SO MUCH LAND TO TRADE" "ISRAEL HAD ITS BEST CHANCE EVER FOR PEACE." "ISRAELIS FLOCKED TO THE OLD CITY." ". TO THEM, THE VICTORY WAS A DELIVERANCE FROM DESTRUCTION" "THE ISRAELI CABINET WAS DETERMINED" "TO HOLD ON TO JERUSALETHE TIME B EING, THE WEST BANK." "THEY WERE WILLING TO GIVE BACK THE GOLAN HEIGHTS TO SYRIA" "AND THE SINAI DESERT TO EGYPT." "THE FOREIGN MINISTER TOLD THE AMERICANS OF ISRAEL'S OFFER." "Eban:" "WHEN I PRESENTED THESE IN A MEETING" "HEADED BY DEAN RUSK, AND GOLDBERG AND SISCO" "IN GENERAL, THEY WERE ASTONISHED BY THE FACT" "THAT WE WERE CLEARLY NOT IN THE MOOD OF ANNEXATION." "THAT WAS..." "WE BELIEVED THEN" "A RATHER REMARKABLE INITIATIVE ON THE PART OF THE ISRAELI S" "BECAUSE WE WERE OPERATING ON THE ASSUMPTION" "EBAN HAD TOLD US SOME DAYS BEFORE" ""WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN TERRITORY."" "Narrator:" "THAT WEEK, PRESIDENT JOHNSON WAS HOSTING A SUMMIT" "FOR SOVIET PRIME MINISTER KOSYGIN." "EAGER TO APPEAR AS PEACEMAKERS AT THE U.N." ". THE TWO LEADERS HAD A PEACE RESOLUTION DRAFTED" "IN CAIRO, IT WAS SCRUTINIZED BY THE FOREIGN MINISTRY." "THIS WAS ANOTHER TURNING POINT IN THE ARAB-ISRAELI CONFLICT." "Translator:" "WE CONCLUDED THAT THIS PROPOSAL" "WAS THE BEST WE WERE LIKELY TO GET." "WE ADVISED THE FOREIGN MINISTER TO ACCEPT IT." "Narrator:" "THE MINISTER LOOKED AT IT DIFFERENTLY." "(speaking Russian)" "Translator:" "WHEN THE RESOLUTION WAS PROPOSED" "ISRAEL WAS READY TO ACCEPT I T" "BUT EGYPT'S FOREIGN MINISTER WAS UTTERLY AGAINST THE RESOLUTION" "BECAUSE IT INDIRECTLY IMPLIED ISRAEL'S RIGHT TO EXIST" "AND HE WOULDN'T HAVE THAT AT ALL." "N ISRAEL, OF COURSE, DID NOT WANT ANY RESOLUTIO" "THAT ONLY SAID "PULL BACK YOUR FORCES"" "BUT DIDN'T RECOGNIZE ISRAEL'S EXISTENCE." "SO THIS WAS THE PROBLEM." "." "Narrator:" "BUT RECOGNIZING ISRAEL WAS NOT ON NASSER'S AGENDA" "FOLLOWING EGYPT'S DEFEAT, HE HAD MORE IMMEDIATE PROBLEMS AT HOME." "Translator:" "ABDEL NASSER SAID, "WE'VE LOST." ""THERE IS NO POINT IN STAYING ON." "I SHALL RESIGN."" "Translator:" "I HAVE DECIDED TO RESIGN TOTALLY AND FINALLY" "FROM ALL OFFICIAL POSITIONS." "I SHALL RETURN TO PRIVATE LIFE." "I SHALL PERFORM MY DUTIES LIKE ANY OTHER CITIZEN." "(crowd chanting)" "Narrator:" "AFTER HIS BROADCAST" "CROWDS SURROUNDED THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE" "AND BEGGED NASSER TO STAY." "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "MOST OF THE DEMONSTRATIONS WERE GENUINE." "PEOPLE REALLY WERE UPSET." "BUT SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENED, TOO." "THE PARTY BOSS TOLD MEMBERS TO GATHER AND LISTEN TO THE SPEECH." "AFTER THE SPEECH, THEY TOO K TO THE STREETS AND CHANTED" ""WE WANT NASSER, NO LEADER BUT NASSER."" "Narrator:" "NASSER STAYED ON AS PRESIDENT." "HIS OLD FRIEND MARSHAL AME R BECAME THE SCAPEGOAT." ". HE REFUSED TO RESIGN, SO NASSER HAD HIM ARRESTED" "HE DIED IN CUSTODY." "IT WAS SAID IN CAIRO HE WAS "SUICIDED."" "SHORTLY AFTER, NASSER REJECTED THE SOVIET-AMERICAN PEACE PLAN." "Translator:" "NASSER COULD NOT BRING HIMSELF TO ACCEPT THE PEACE PLAN." ". HE WAS A HERO TO THE ARABS" "HE COULDN'T BE SEEN NEGOTIATING WITH THE ISRAELIS." "Narrator:" "THREE MONTHS LATER, ARAB LEADERS MET" "TO FORMULATE A UNIFIED POLIC Y TOWARDS ISRAEL." "NASSER, STILL THE IDOL OF THE ARAB WORLD, WAS SUBDUED." "." "Hussein:" "I FOUND HIM..." "DIFFERENT MAN" "I NOTICED FROM THE OUTSET" "THAT HE FELT A GREAT SENSE OF GUILT." "." "Narrator:" "THE ARABS AGREED TO REJECT ANY COMPROMISE WITH ISRAEL" "Man:" "THE DECISION BY THE ARAB COUNTIES" "NOT TO NEGOTIATE WITH ISRAEL , NOT TO MAKE PEACE WITH ISRAE L" "AND NOT TO RECOGNIZE ISRAEL." "E Narrator:" "WITH NO RECOGNITION, NO NEGOTIATION AND NO PEAC" "IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME" "BEFORE WAR WOULD BREAK OUT AGAIN." "(explosion)" "(rapid aircraft fire)" "Narrator:" "AT THE SUEZ CANAL" "THE EGYPTIANS LAUNCHED A WAR OF ATTRITION" ". AND THE ISRAELIS FOUGHT BACK" "WITH GROWING CASUALTIES" ". POLITICAL ATTITUDES IN BOTH COUNTRIES HARDENED" "(rapid gunfire)" ". THERE WAS RENEWED CONFLICT IN THE JORDAN VALLEY AS WELL" "ISRAELI SOLDIERS WERE IN CONSTANT PURSUIT" "OF PALESTINIANS WHO CROSSE D INTO THE WEST BANK" "TO ATTACK ISRAELI TARGETS." "(rapid gunfire)" ". THERE WAS NO TALK OF PEACE" "INSIDE JORDAN" "THE PALESTINIANS WERE BUSY BUILDING UP THEIR FORCES." "THEIR CHARTER CALLED" "FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF ISRAE L BY A PALESTINIAN STATE" "AND THE EXPULSION OF ALL JEW S WHO ARRIVED AFTER 1948." "IN 1967, A SMALL BAND OF PALESTINIAN GUERRILLAS" ". SET UP A CAMP IN KARAMEH IN THE JORDAN RIVER VALLEY" "FROM THE BANK OF THE JORDAN, THEY COULD SEE" "THE ISRAELI SOLDIERS PATROLLING THE WEST BANK." "Translator:" "WE WAITED UNTIL THE ISRAEL I PATROL VEHICLE HAD PASSED BY ." "THEN WE STARTED TO CROSS THE RIVER." "THE FIRST TO CROSS WAS ABU AMMAR." "Narrator:" "ABU AMMAR, OR YASSER ARAFAT, WAS AN ENGINEER WHO BECAME" "ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF A RESISTANCE GROUP CALLED FATAH." "THIS WAS THEIR FIRST CROSSIN G OF THE RIVER JORDAN" "LAUNCHING THEIR CAMPAIGN T O ESTABLISH A PALESTINIAN STATE." "WE KNOW THAT IS NOT EASY.." "." "BUT..." "WE ARE READY TO PAY THE PRICE." "Shaheen (translated):" "ON ME, THE WATER OF THE RIVER JORDAN" "CAME UP TO HERE." "ON TALLER PEOPLE, OF COURSE, IT WOULDN'T COME SO FAR UP." "NOW, ARAFAT IS SHORT, AND THE WATER CAME UP TO HIS SHOULDER." "HE HAD HIS CLOTHES ON TOP OF HIS HEAD" "AND HE WADED SLOWLY, SLOWLY." "IF HE SLIPPED, HE WOULD FALL" "AND EVERYTHING WOULD GET WET , ESPECIALLY HIS GUN." "Narrator:" "BEYOND THE RIVER, IN THE OCCUPIED WEST BANK" "G THE FATAH GUERRILLAS SET ABOUT RECRUITING AND TRAININ" "SMALL RESISTANCE GROUPS TO STRIKE AT ISRAEL." " Shaheen (translated):" "THE BEST TARGETS WERE THE ONES WE COULD TAKE BY SURPRISE" ". FOR EXAMPLE, MOVING VEHICLES" "YOU OPEN FIRE" " A GROUP OF THREE OR FOUR OF YOU." "THEN IF YOU THROW ONE OR TWO GRENADES, THAT SETTLES IT." ". YOU'RE SAFE AND THEY'RE DEAD" "Narrator:" "THE GUERRILLAS HAD THE SUPPORT OF JORDAN'S REGULAR ARMY." "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "AT FIRST I ENCOURAGED THEM WHEN THEY WENT ON OPERATIONS ." "WE WOULD PROVIDE COVERING FIRE THEY CROSSED THE RIVER." "Narrator:" "IF THE ISRAELIS HIT BACK" "THE KINGDOM OF JORDAN WOULD TAKE THE BLOW." "Translator:" "SO I ASKED HIS MAJESTY TO MEET THEM." "I HAD NEVER SEEN A PHOTOGRAP OF..." "OF ARAFAT UP TO THAT POINT" "OR A DESCRIPTION OF HIM, SO I WAS LOOKING AT" "T A SORT OF A BIG BURLY FIGURE THAT I THOUGHT MUST BE ARAFA" "AND WHEN HE FINALLY CAME TO SAY GOOD-BYE" "IT WASN'T THE IMAGE I HAD FORMED OF ARAFAT" "G Narrator:" "THE ACTIONS LAUNCHED FROM KARAMEH WORRIED THE KIN" "BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THEM." "(man speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "KARAMEH HAD BECOME A HUGE MILITARY BASE IN JORDAN." "THE TERRORISTS THERE WERE SENDING UNITS INTO ISRAEL." "A HUGE MILITARY BASE IN JORDAN." "THE STRAW THAT BROKE THE CAMEL'S BACK" "WAS AN ATTACK ON AN ISRAELI BUS" "TAKING PUPILS ON A SCHOOF THE DEAD SEA." "IT HIT A PALESTINIAN MINE." "CHILDREN WERE KILLED AND INJURED." "Narrator:" "IN RESPONSE, THE ISRAELI ARM Y WAS ORDERED TO DESTROY" "THE PALESTINIAN BASES IN KARAMEH AND SOUTH OF THE DEAD SEA." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "WE WERE NOT VERY CAREFUL." "AFTER THE 1967 WAR, WE DIDN' T TAKE THE ENEMY SERIOUSLY." ". WE DIDN'T BOTHER TO HIDE ANY OF OUR TROOP MOVEMENTS" ".THEY CAME BLATANTLY WE DIDN'T BOTHER TO HIDE ANY OF OUR TROOP MOVEMENTS" "WITH THEIR TANKS AND ARTILLERY AND TROOPS MASSED UP." "SO WE REALIZED THAT SOMETHING WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN." "I THINK THEY WERE OVERCONFIDENT." "D EARLY IN THE MORNING, AT ABOUT 5:00, WE WERE TOL" "THAT THE FIRST ISRAELI ELEMENTS HAD CROSSED ONE OF THE BRIDGES." "Narrator:" "THE ISRAELIS ATTACKED." "(artillery fire)" "FACING THEM WERE 300 PALESTINIAN FIGHTERS" "WITH ORDERS FROM ARAFAT TO HOLD THEIR GROUND." "BY MIDDAY" "HALF OF THEM WERE DEAD AND MOST OF THE REST WERE ROUNDED UP." ")" "Translator:" "ARAFAT HAD SLIPPED OUT OF THERE AT 2:00 IN THE MORNING." "Narrator:" "BUT THE BATTLE WASN'T OVER YET." "JORDANIAN ARMY TANKS ARRIVED IN FORCE." "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "I JUMPED WHEN I WAS TOLD THE ISRAELI TANKS WERE COMING." "I JUMPED OUT OF BED." ""SHOOT!" I SAID." "I WAS JUMPING WITH EXCITEMENT." "I WANTED TO FACE THE JEWS." "YES, BY GOD, I DID!" "Translator:" "THE JORDANIAN INVOLVEMENT IN THE BATTLE WAS VERY MASSIVE." "WE DTROYED MANY OF THEIR TANKS." "Narrator:" "29 ISRAELIS DIED IN THE BATTLE." "THE PALESTINIANS DECLARED VICTORY." "Arafat:" "WE FACED THESE HUGE UP-TO-DATE MILITARY ISRAELI FORCES." "IN THE BEGINNING WE WERE ALONE." "AFTER FIVE HOURS" "SOME SMALL BATTALIONS FROM THE JORDANIAN GOVERNMENT ATTENDED US" "AND FOUGHT WITH US" "WITHOUT ANY CENTRAL INSTRUCTIONS FROM THEIR HEADQUARTERS." "N BUT AT THE END, IT WAS THE FIRST VICTORY FOR THE ARAB NATIO" "AFTER THIS BIG DEFEAT OF 1967." "THEY CLAIMED IT TO BE A VICTORY FOR THEM." "WE WOULDN'T HAVE DISPUTED THAT" "EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT IT WASN'T TRUE." "Narrator:" "BUT IT WAS A PUBLIC-RELATION S TRIUMPH." "S ARAFAT WAS CHOSEN TO COMMAND ALL THE FACTION" "IN THE PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANIZATION." "gunfire) IN THE PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANIZATION.pid" "(soldiers yelling)" "INSPIRED BY THE STORIES OF A GREAT VICTORY AT KARAMEH" "VOLUNTEERS FROM MANY COUNTRIES CAME TO SWELL THE RANKS." "(call-and-response in Arabic)" "Translator:" "BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THE MAJORITY WERE THE WORST TYPE OF PEOPLE." "THEY WERE UNTRAINED AND UNDISCIPLINED." "THE P.L.O. GREW LARGER, AND OUR PROBLEMS GREW WITH IT." "(crowd chanting)" "Rifa'i:" "IT WAS TOTAL ANARCHY." "WE HAD 52 VARIOUS GUERRILLA ORGANIZATIONS" "OF ALL VARIOUS TYPES" "AND THEY WEREN'T JUST" "PALESTINIAN GUERRILLA ORGANIZATIONS." "E EVERY INTERNATIONAL GUERRILL A ORGANIZATION HAD A PRESENC" "IN THE COUNTRY." "(man singing over loudspeaker)" "WE WERE NAIVE PEOPLE." "WE WERE VERY ENTHUSIASTIC, VERY REVOLUTIONARY" "AND AT THE SAME TIME WE WERE-- AND I CAN ASSURE YOU" "WE WERE VERY INNOCENT." "WE FELT THAT KING HUSSEIN" "AS A REACTIONARY LEADER, LEADING A REACTIONARY REGIME" "IS AN OBSTACLE" "AND THAT IN ORDER TO MAKE OUR REVOLUTION SUCCEED" "WE NEED TO REMOVE THIS OBSTACLE." "(sirens blaring)" "Narrator:" "ONE DAY, SHOOTING BROKE OU T IN THE CAPITAL, AMMAN" "AND THE KING DROVE OFF TO INVESTIGATE." "Hussein:" "AND ON A CROSSROAD..." "WHERE THERE WAS A MILITARY POLICE CHECKPOS T" "WE FOUND THAT ONE SIDE OF THE ROAD WAS CLOSED" ". AND THE OTHER SIDE ALSO WAS BLOCKED BY AN ARMY LORRY" "Hussein (on tape):" "We stopped." "AS WE CAME TO A STOP, SUDDENLY WE WERE UNDER" "VERY, VERY INTENSE HEAVY MACHINE-GUN FIRE." "THE GUARD CAR IN FRONT OF ME WAS HIT." "WE LOST A SERGEANT OF MY GUARD AND ABOUT FOUR WOUNDED." "EVERYONE JUMPED OUT OF MY CA AND YELLED AT ME TO DO THE SAME." "(rapid gunfire)" "S AND WE COULD SEE THE BULLETS FROM THOSE HEAVY MACHINE GUN" "COMING DOWN AT US, HITTING THE ASPHALT" "THE TARMAC AROUND US." "IT WAS LIKE RAINDROPS ON A PARCHED LAND JUST MAKING HOLES" "AND THOSE ROWS OF HOLES WERE GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER" "TO WHERE WE WERE STANDING." "I FELT VERY ANGRY" "AND I BELIEVE MY REACTION WAS TO SAY A BAD WORD" "BUT ESSENTIALLY TO THE EFFEC T OF "HOW DARE THEY?"" "(explosions and gunfire)" "Narrator:" "THE KING D INTO A DITCH." "SPONTANEOUSLY AND ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT" "I HAD AN IDEA TO PROTECT HIS MAJESTY PHYSICALLY" "AND THE COMMANDER OF THE GUARDS HAD THE SAME IDEA" "AT THE SAME TIME." "THEY CONVERGED FROM BOTH SIDES TO TRY TO GIVE ME BODY COVER" "AND THEY NEARLY BROKE MY BACK IN THE PROCESS." "(man yelling and gunfire)" "Narrator:" "THEIR DRIVER TURNED THE CAR AROUND." "Hussein:" "WE GOT INTO THE CAR, SHOOTING GOING ON." "ENGINE WAS REVVING LIKE MAD, BUT WE WERE STILL STATIONARY" "AND ENGAGED THE GEAR, WHICH IN HIS ANXIETY" "HE HAD FORGOTTEN TO DO, AND WE SHOT OFF." "(cheering)" "D Narrator:" "THE FACTION MOST DETERMINE" "TO OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT OF JORDAN" "WAS LED BY GEORGE HABASH." "Translator:" "ALL WE WANTED TO DO WAS TO FIGHT AGAINST ISRAEL" "BUT THE JORDANIAN REGIME SAW US AS A DANGER OR A THREAT." "THIS WAS THEIR PROBLEM, NOT OURS." "Arafat:" "DR. HABASH WAS THE LEADER OF A POLITICAL PARTY" "AND THEY DECIDED TO REMOVE KING HUSSEIN." "BUT FROM OUR POINT OF VIEW" "WE DON'T LIKE TO FIGHT AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE..." "BUT IF THEY ARE INSISTING TO CLASH, WE'LL FIGHT." "Narrator:" "ON SEPTEMBER 9, 1970, THIS BRITISH AIRLINER" "WITH 115 PASSENGERS AND SOME OF DR. HABASH'S ARMED MEN ABOARD" "APPEARED OVER AMMAN." "I HEARD ABOUT IT." "WHEN AN AIRCRAFT PASSED OVERHEAD" "MY HOUSE" " WEST OF THE CITY IN THE SUBURBS" "PRACTICALLY KNOCKING THE ROOF OFF." "Narrator:" "IN A SINGLE SPECTACULAR OPERATION" "HABASH'S MEN HIJACKED FOUR WESTERN AIRLINERS" "AND FORCED THREE OF THEM TO FLY TO JORDAN" "WITH THEIR HUNDREDS OF PASSENGERS." "THE PLANES LANDED" "ON AN OLD WORLD WAR II AIRSTRIP IN THE DESERT." "Habash:" "WE WAITED FOR 20 FULL YEARS." "NOTHING HAPPENED." "OUR PEOPLE REMAINED IN THEIR CAMPS, IN THEIR TENTS." "THEY ARE FED UP WITH THIS CONDITION." "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "WE THOUGHT THAT THE WAY TO ATTRACT THE WORLD'S ATTENTION" "TO OUR CAUSE WAS TO HIJACK PLANES." "Narrator:" "THE JORDANIAN ARMY SURROUNDED THE AIRSTRIP" "AND THE GENERAL IN CHARGE WENT IN TO NEGOTIATE" "WITH THE HIJACKERS." "Translator:" "WE SPOKE FOR HOURS." "IT WAS TERRIBLY HOT." "I STAYED IN THE SHADE OF THE AIRCRAFT." "I MADE A DEAL WITH THEM" "WE TAKE THE PASSENGERS, THEY KEEP THE PLANES." "T Narrator:" "435 PASSENGERS AND CREW WERE TAKEN OFF THE AIRCRAF" "BUT SOME WERE KEPT AS HOSTAGES." "THE HUMILIATION OF HAVING AIRCRAFT FLOWN INTO THE COUNTRY" "AND INNOCENT PASSENGERS BEING WHISKED AWAY" "AND BEING UNABLE TONG ABOU T IT" "D WAS SOMETHING THAT QUESTIONE" "." "Narrator:" "THE HIJACKERS THEN DROVE HOM E THEIR MESSAGE TO THE WORLD" "WELL, THAT WAS THE LIMIT, AS FAR AS I WAS CONCERNED." "SOMETHING HAD TO BE DONE, AND DONE SOON." "Narrator:" "FOUR DAYS LATER, WITH CONTRO L OF THE KINGDOM SLIPPING AWAY" "KING HUSSEIN DECLARED WAR ON THE P.L.O." "THAT DAY, JORDANIAN TANKS AND SOLDIERS" "MOVED INTO POSITION AROUND THE CAPITAL." "ARAB WAS POISED TO FIGHT ARAB." "Hussein:" "I THINK I TRIED TO GET A LITTLE BIT OF SLEEP THAT NIGHT." "I PRAYED A LOT." "AND IN THE MORNING, FIRST LIGHT" "THERE WAS MOVEMENT INTO THE CITY." "(bombing in distance)" "Rabbo:" "ON THE EARLY HOURS OF SEPTEMBER 17" "I WOKE UP AND WE HEARD THE ARTILLERY BOMBING OUR BASES." "SO WHAT WE DID IMMEDIATELY" "IS THAT WE WENT TO ARAFAT OFFICE, THE JOINT COMMAND." "ARAFAT WAS THERE, MOST OF THE LEADERS OF FATAH WERE THERE" "EVEN HABASH WAS THERE, AND THEY WERE CALLING" "THROUGH TELEPHONE AND THROUGH WIRELESS" "DAMASCUS, TELLING THEM ABOUT THE NEWS" "AND ASKING IN AN OPEN WAY FOR A SYRIAN INTERVENTION." "(artillery fire continues)" "Narrator:" "ON THE THIRD DAY OF FIERCE FIGHTING, THE SYRIANS RESPONDED." "Man:" "OUR INTELLIGENCE AND OUR RADAR" "INFORMED US THAT THE SYRIANS WERE MASSING TANK FORMATIONS" "ON THE JORDANIAN-SYRIAN BORDER." "WE HAD BEEN ARGUING OVER THIS SYRIAN INVASION" "PARTICULARLY WITH OUR SOVIET FRIENDS AT THE TIME" "AND WHENEVER RAISED THE PROBLEM" "WITH THE SOVIET AMBASSADOR" "HE WOULD RESPOND, "BUT THESE ARE PALESTINIAN ARMY UNITS" "AND PALESTINIAN ARMY TANKS-- THEY ARE NOT SYRIAN."" "AND WE ALL KNEW THAT THE P.L.O. DOES NOT HAVE TANKS." "Narrator:" "BUT THERE WERE TANKS, SOVIET-BUILT ONES" "STREAMING IN FROM SYRIA." "Translator:" "WE WERE JUST PROTECTING THE PALESTINIANS" "FROM THE ARMY OF JORDAN." "OUR PURPOSE WASN'T REALLY TO ATTACK THE JORDANIANS." "IT WAS A LIMITED INTERVENTION ON THE SMALLEST POSSIBLE SCALE." "WAS SUT AND PROTECT THE PALESTINIAN FIGHTERS" "Narrator:" "IN WASHINGTON, PRESIDENT NIXON CALLED IN" "HIS NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISERS" "TO ASSESS THE REPORTS FROM JORDAN." "THE SOVIETS WERE ON EVERY PLATOON LEADER'S TANK" "RIGHT UP TO THE BORDER" "AND THEN JUMPED OFF AS THEY CROSSED THE BORDER" "AND SYRIAN OFFICERS WERE IN COMMAND" "OF WHAT WERE ALLEGEDLY P.L.O. VOLUNTEER FORCES." "SO WE KNEW IT WAS PERPOW ER CRISIS." "Narrator:" "THE PRESIDENT SUMMONED THE SOVIET AMBASSADOR." "Nixon:" "WE WARNED THE RUSSIANS" "AND SAID, "STAY OUT OF THERE."" "THEY, OF COURSE, IN TURN WARNED US" "AND SAID, "YOU STAY OUT AND KEEP ISRAEL OUT."" "Narrator:" "IN THE MEANTIME, KING HUSSEIN'S FORCES HAD DESTROYED" "MANY OF THE SYRIAN TANKS, BU THEY COULD NOT STOP THE ADVANCE." ". THE PRESSURE ON THE KING WAS INCREASING BY THE HOUR" "WHEN THE SYRIAN TANKS HAD REACHED IRBID" "WHICH IS ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF THE WAY" "FROM THE SYRIAN BORDER DOWN TO AMMAN" "THEY'RE ABOUT AT THAT TOWN , ON THE EDGE OF IT" "THAT'S WHEN HE WAS REALLY STARTING TO PANIC." "N WITH ALL THE THREATS FROM ALMOST EVERY DIRECTIO" "S AND THE SITUATION, TO ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSE" "LOOKING ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO COPE WITH" "ARMY HEADQUARTERS BEGAN TO TELL ME" "THAT WE NEEDED HELP FROM OUTSIDE" "AND WE SHOULD ASK FOR IT FROM THE AMERICANS" "AND ANY QUARTER THAT WOULD BE WILLING TO..." "TO HELP." "Narrator:" "IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES" ""ANY QUARTER" COULD MEAN ONLY ONE THING:" "ISRAEL." "WE KNEW THAT HE HAD SAID" "HE WOULD ACCEPT HELP FROM ANY QUARTER, AND WE THOUGH T" "HE'D PROBABLY PREFER DIREC T AMERICAN INTERVENTION." "HE WAS KEENLY AWARE THAT I HE WAS RESURRECTED AND PROTECTED" "AS A RESULT OF ISRAELI MILITARY INTERVENTION" "THAT THIS WOULD HAVE A STRONGLY NEGATIVE IMPACT" "F NOT ONLY WITHIN JORDAN ITSEL" ". BUT OBVIOUSLY, WITHIN THE ENTIRE ARAB WORLD" "THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS DISCUSSED" "BETWEEN SISCO, MYSELF, UH..." "HAIG" "AND ONE OR TWO OF MY STAFF PEOPLE." "D Narrator:" "THE ADVISERS KNEW THAT PRESIDENT NIXON WOULD HAVE TO BE INFORME" "ABOUT THE SITUATION RIGHT AWAY." "Kissinger:" "BUT FIRST I HAD TO FIND HIM, AND THE SECRET SERVICE TOLD ME" "HE WAS THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE BUILDING" "ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE WHITE HOUSE" "BOWLING, AND THAT'S WHERE I FOUND HIM." "I REMEMBER HENRY COMING BACK INTO THE OFFICE." "HE SAID, "HOLY MACKEREL, THE GUY'S BOWLING" "WITH HIS BLACK DRESS SHOES ON!"" "HE WAS THERE BOWLING ALONE AND WE JUST STARTED TALKING." "HE WANTED TO HAVE AN AMERICAN INTERVENTION." ".F COURSE, WE DIDN'T JUST HE WANTED TO HAVE ANHAVE AN EMPTY CANNON THERE" "THAT'S WHY WE MOVED SOME FLEET UNITS" "OVER INTO THAT PART OF THE MEDITERRANEAN" "AND THAT IS WHY WE ALERTED" "BATTALIONS AS WELL." "I IT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFICULT TO MANAGE." ". WE DIDN'T HAVE A COMMANDER" "WE DIDN'T HAVE THE RIGHT COMBINATION OF FORCES." ". WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO END IT" "Sisco:" ""MR. PRESIDENT," WE SAID" ". "WE THINK THE ISRAELIS ARE I N THE BEST POSITION TO DO THIS" ""THEY'RE CLOSE TO THE SCENE." "THE RESOURCES CAN BE EMPLOYED RAPIDLY."" "ONCE HE UNDERSTOOD THAT, HE AGREED TO BACK THE ISRAELIS." "HUSSEIN WAS QUITE AWARE OF" "G AND APPROVED OF WHAT WE WERE DOING IN THIS THIN" "AND IF HE DIDN'T APPROVE, HE DIDN'T LET US KNOW." "Narrator:" "IT WAS AMERICA'S AMBASSADO R IN JORDAN" "WHO BROKE THE NEWS TO KING HUSSEIN." "AND WHAT I WAS TOLD TO SAY TO HIM IS" ""WE'LL GET THE ISRAELIS TO COME IN AND HELP YOU."" "AND I THINK THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS MOMENT FOR THE KING." "WE ASKED RABIN WHAT THE VIEWS OF THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT WOULD BE" "IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES" "AND RABIN SAID HE WOULD REPORT HOME AND ASK." "Hotranslated):" "I GOT THE AUTHORIZATION" "TO SEND PHANTOMS T OVER THESE TANKS." "I BRIEFED THE LEADER OF THE FORMATION MYSELF." "I TOLD HIM, "FLY OVER THEM ." ""LEAVE NO DOUBT THAT THEY SEE YOU AND HEAR YOU." ""MAKE MOCK ATTACKS, SO THAT THEY UNDERSTAND" "WHAT WE WANT THEM TO DO, WHICH IS TO TURN AROUND AND GO BACK."" ". SO OUR FOUR AIRCRAFT PERFORMED MANEUVERS OVER THESE TANKS" "ON THE SIDE I HAD ANOTHER TWO QUARTETS WAITING, JUST IN CASE." "BUT NO ONE BOTHERED THEM." "THE TANKS TURNED AROUND AND WENT BACK." "A QUARTET OF PHANTOMS WAS ENOUGH." "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "DEFENSE MINISTER ASSAD DID NOT WANT TO COMMIT OUR AIR FORCE ." "WE WERE FIGHTING AN ALLY." "THE JORDANIAN ARMY IS OUR FRIEND." "WE CAN'T ATTACK THEM USING PLANES." "Narrator:" "WHETHER IT WAS BECAUSE OF ARAB SOLIDARITY" "OR THE THREAT OF NIXON'S SIXTH FLEET AND ISRAEL'S WAR PLANES" "SYRIA FINALLY WITHDREW ITS TANKS." "THE JORDANIAN ARMY COULD NOW GIVE ALL ITS ATTENTION" "TO KICKING OUT THE PALESTINIANS." "YASSER ARAFAT, HIDING SOMEWHERE IN THE CAPITAL" "SENT OUT AN S.O.S." "I REMEMBER THAT HE MADE BROADCASTING" "THROUGH THE STATION WE HAD" "ASKING THE ARAB WORLD AND THE ISLAMIC WORLD TO INTERVENE." "Narrator:" "THE ARAB WORLD HEARD HIM." "ITS LEADERS GATHERED IN CAIR O FOR AN EMERGENCY MEETING" "CHAIRED BY PRESIDENT NASSER." "NASSER DECIDED THAT THE LEADERS" "SHOULD SEND A DELEGATION TO JORDAN" "TO ASK KING HUSSEIN TO STO P KILLING PALESTINIANS." ". AT THE HEAD OF THIS DELEGATION WAS THE PRESIDENT OF SUDAN" "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "WE WENT TO KING HUSSEIN." "OFS EVERY KIND OF DELICIOUS DISH ." "(gunfire)" "Hussein:" "THEY KEPT TELLING US THAT" ""YOU HAVE TO STOP THINGS IMMEDIATELY."" "WELL, WE CAN'T STOP." ". I MEAN, WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A LIFE-AND-DEATH STRUGGLE" "Translator:" "THEN WE STAYED FOR DINNER" "GOING THROUGH ALL THE ARGUMENTS." "I BELIEVE THAT THAT EXPERIENCE WAS ONE OF MY WORST" "DURING THAT PARTICULAR PERIOD OF TIME" "BECAUSE ONE IS CONCERNED, ONE IS WORRIED." "ONE IS TRYING TO DEAL WITH PROBLEMS CHANGING EVERY MINUTE" "AND SUDDENLY TO HAVE TO ENTERTAIN A GROUP" "THAT IS TOTALLY OUT OF TOUCH WITH..." "WITH REALITY" "OR WITH THE NEEDS OF THE MOMENT." "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "AND WE KEPT ON TALKING" "AND GOING THROUGH ALL THE REASONS" "UNTIL DAYBREAK." "Narrator:" "THE ARAB LEADERS, HAVING FAILED TO CONVINCE THE KING" "GOT INTO AN ARMO AND TUNED IN THE RADIO." "abic) GOT INTO AN ARMO AND TUNED IN THE RADIO. (speaking Ar" "Translator:" "WE STARTED TO HEAR ARAFAT TALKING" "AND ARAFAT CALLING FOR HELP." "Narrator:" "THE LEADERS WENT TO ARAFAT'S HIDEOUT" "AND PROVIDED HIM WITH A NEW IDENTITY" ". A FAMILY MAN, COMPLETE WITH WIFE AND CHILD" "Translator:" "WE PASSED OFF THE CHILD AS ARAFAT'S" "AND WE MADE ARAFAT CHANGE INTO ARABIAN DRES" "Narrator:" "THUS DISGUISED AMID THE DELEGATION OF ARAB LEADERS" "ARAFAT MADE IT PAST KING HUSSEIN'S SOLDIERS" "GUARDING THE AIRPORT." "AND THEN SUDDENLY I, UH..." "HEARD WITH, UH..." "UTTER SHOCK AND DISBELIEF THAT THEY ARRIVED IN CAIRO" "THEY HAD ARAFAT WITH THEM." "(murmuring and click of camera shutters)" "Narrator:" "ARAFAT HAD HAD A CLOSE SHAVE IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE." "BACK IN CAIRO, PRESIDENT NUMEIRY REPORTED ON THE CONFLICT." "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "IT WAS UNFAIR TO JORDAN AND TO KING HUSSEIN." "Narrator:" "KING HUSSEIN DECIDED" "THAT HE, TOO, HAD BETTER JOI N THE MEETING IN CAIRO." "Hussein:" "I OF COURSE CAME IN" "STILL IN MY..." "MY FATIGUES" "AND WITH..." "WITH MY GUN IN POSITION." "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "AND HE SPOKE IN THE CONFERENCE" "AND RESPONDED TO THE ALLEGATIONS." "HE SAID HE WAS NOT AGAINST THE PALESTINIANS AT ALL." "Narrator:" "PRESIDENT NASSER IMPOSED A DEAL" "WHICH MET MOST OF KING HUSSEIN'S DEMANDS." "ARAFAT GAVE IN." "HE AGREED ALL HIS FIGHTERS WOULD LEAVE THE CAPITAL." "THE P.L.O. TRIED TO REGROU P IN THE NORTH OF JORDAN" "AND IT TOOK KING HUSSEIN ANOTHER YEAR" "TO DRIVE THEM OUT OF THE COUNTRY ALTOGETHER." "THE P.L.O.'s ATTEMPT TO TAKE OVER JORDAN HAD FAILED." "Arafat:" "BUT WE DID A VERY IMPORTANT THING:" "WE CREATE A NEW PEOPLE" "AND INSTEAD OF BEING REFUGEES, TO BE..." "TO BE FIGHTERS." "THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT." ". WE WERE REFUGEES, HOMELESS" "WE BECAME NOW FIGHTERS, FREEDOM FIGHTERS." "AND NEXT STAGE" " YOU WILL SEE!" "Narrator:" "ARAFAT AND HIS BATTERED FIGHTERS MOVED TO LEBANON..." "WHERE THEY REGROUPED." "(martial music playing)" "SOON ARAFAT WOULD BE STRONG ENOUGH" "TO BECOME A POWER BROKER IN LEBANON" "AND CONTINUE HIS ATTACKS ON ISRAELIS." "Commentator:" "THE OLYMPIC GAMES STAND STILL" "THE FLAGS IN THE STADIUM AT HALF MAST" "THE CITIZENS OF MUNICH" "THE THOUSANDS OF COMPETITORS AND OFFICIALS..." "S Narrator:" "PALESTINIAN GUERRILLAS CROWNED A YEAR OF TERRORIST ATTACK" "BY STORMING THE OLYMPIC VILLAGE." "Commentator:" "THIS HASTILY CONCEIVED MEMORIAL CEREMONY..." "Narrator:" "ELEVEN ISRAELI ATHLETES WERE KILLED AS THE WORLD WATCHED." "ISRAEL RETALIATED WITH A PINPOINT OPERATION." "AN ISRAELI COMMANDO FORCE LANDED ON A BEACH NEAR BEIRUT." "THEIR TARGETS WERE P.L.O. LEADERS" "PARTICULARLY THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR MUNICH." "(gunfire)" "ARAFAT, WHO WAS WORKING LATE" "AT THE P.L.O.'s BUSY HEADQUARTERS, ESCAPED." "BUT THE GUERRILLAS WHO PLANNED AND CARRIED OUT" "THE MUNICH OPERATION, WERE KILLED." "(sirens blaring)" "AT THE FUNERALS" "THE PALESTINIANS AND THEIR MUSLIM ALLIES ERUPTED IN FURY." "TO EVERYONE'S ASTONISHMENT" "THIS MAN TURNED UP AT THE FUNERAL" "PIERRE GEMAYEL, CHRISTIAN MARONITE LEADER" "SUSPECTED BY SOME PALESTINIANS OF COLLABORATING WITH ISRAEL." "GEMAYEL LED A CHRISTIAN MILITIA, THE PHALANGE." "T HE WARNED ARAFAT TO STAY OUT OF HIS CONFLIC" "LEBANESE MUSLIMS." "Translator:" "PIERRE GEMAYEL THOUGHT HAR D BEFORE ATTENDING THE FUNERAL ." "THE SECURITY PEOPLE OF THE PHALANGE WARNED HIM NOT TO GO." "THEY SAID PIERRE GEMAYEL WOULD BE IN DANGER." "Narrator:" "IN APRIL 1975, CIVIL WAR BROKE OUT IN LEBANON" "AND ARAFAT BECAME A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH." "HE ASKED FOR A MEETING WITH GEMAYEL" ". AT THE CHRISTIAN CLAN LEADER'S HEADQUARTERS" "AS ARAFAT DROVE THROUGH BEIRUT" "IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE CHRISTIANS CONSIDERED HIM AN ENEMY." "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "WE DROVE PAST SLOGANS ON THE WALLS SAYING" ""NO TO THE P.L.O."" "HE LAUGHED AND SAID TO ME, "WE MUST DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS" "OR LEBANON WILL EXPLODE."" "Narrator:" "THE CIVIL WAR ESCALATED." "ARAFAT ALIGNED HIMSELF WITH THE MUSLIMS" "WHILE CHRISTIANS SOUGHT THE HELP OF ISRAEL." "THE CHRISTIAN LEADER THEN GAVE THE P.L.O. AN ULTIMATUM." "WE ARE ASKING THE PALESTINIANS TO STAY QUIET" "IF THEY WANT TO REMAIN IN LEBANON" "TO STAY QUIET IN LEBANON." "E I DON'T THINK THAT WE ARE GOING TO ACCEPT IN THE FUTUR" "THAT ANY WAR CAN BE WAGED FROM LEBANON" "UH..." "FROM THE LEBANON BORDERS" "T BECAUSE THIS, UH..." "AND TH E PAST EXPERIENCE HAS PROVED I" "THIS WILL PROVE DISASTROUS FOR LEBANON." "(gunfire)" "." "Narrator:" "ARAFAT IGNORED THE WARNING" "1974 HAD SEEN A SUCCESSION OF PALESTINIAN RAIDS" "ACROSS THE BORDER INTO ISRAEL." "IN ONE ATTACK, 18 ISRAELIS, INCLUDING EIGHT CHILDREN, DIED." "A MONTH LATER, PALESTINIAN RAIDERS TOOK OVER A SCHOOL" "AND KILLED 22 CHILDREN." "ISRAEL'S MAIN ANTI-TERRORIST EFFORTS SHIFTED" "ALONG WITH THE P.L.O. ATTACKS." "NOW THE JORDANIAN BORDER WAS QUIET" "AND THERE WAS FIGHTING ON THE LEBANESE BORDER." "(man speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "I WAS APPOINTED COMMANDER OF A BRIGADE ON THE LEBANESE BORDER." "ALL OUR EFFORTS WERE AIMED" "AT PREVENTING TERRORIST INFILTRATION." "HARDLY A WEEK PASSED" ". WITHOUT TWO OR THREE ATTEMPTS TO CROSS THE BORDER" "Narrator:" "ISRAEL, SURROUNDED BY HOSTILE MUSLIM STATES" "BADLY NEEDED ALLIES." "WHEN LEBANON'S CHRISTIANS WERE CHALLENGED" "BY THE PALESTINIANS AND LEBANESE MUSLIMS" ". THEY ASKED FOR ISRAEL'S HELP" "DEFENSE MINISTER SHIMON PERES SENT AN ARABIC-SPEAKING OFFICER" "ON A SECRET MISSION TO BEIRUT." "Translator:" "IN MY HEART, I DECIDED THA T SUCH A MAN MUST VOLUNTEER." "HIS LIFE WOULD CERTAINLY BE AT RISK." "Translator:" "AND WHEN I TOLD HIM I WAS WILLING, HE SMILED." "HE SAID, "IT'S VERY DANGEROUS."" "I SAID, "I KNOW."" "I SAW FUAD'S MISSION AS A TRIP TO A MINEFIELD" "A PLACE WHERE THERE ARE MANY TRAITORS." "Narrator:" "THE ISRAELI OFFICER SET OF F ABOARD A MISSILE BOAT" "SAILING IN DARKNESS TOWARDS CIVIL-WAR-TORN BEIRUT." "ALL BEIRUT WAS LIT BY CANNON FIRE." "A CITY LIKE HELL" "UNBELIEVABLE, ONE BIG CONFLAGRATION." "W Narrator:" "THE INTELLIGENCE OFFICER KNE" "THAT THE CHRISTIANS WERE FARING BADLY AGAINST THE PALESTINIANS." "HIS CHRISTIAN HOSTS SPED HIM TOWARDS THE BATTLEFRONT." "Translator:" "SUDDENLY I SAW" "THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE LINING THE ROAD AND CLAPPING ." "I SAID TO MY HOST, "WHAT'S THIS?"" "" HE SAID, "LET'S TAKE A LOOK." "THEN I SEE TWO TRUCKS COMING UP." "ONE TRUCK HAS MEN SHOOTING IN THE AIR." "THE OTHER HAS ROPES TIED TO IT." "AT THE END OF EACH OF THESE ROPES" "IS THE BODY OF A P.L.O. TERRORIST" "AND THIS TRUCK IS DRAGGING THEM ALONG THE GROUND" "AND THE MEN ON THE BACK OF THE TRUCK" "ARE JUST SHOOTING AND SHOOTING AT THEM" "ALTHOUGH THEY HAD LONG BEEN DEAD." "I WAS SIMPLY SHOCKED." "Narrator:" "LEBANESE MUSLIMS AND CHRISTIANS AND PALESTINIANS" "FOUGHT AND MURDERED EACH OTHER WITH FEROCITY." "SOME 40,000 WOULD DIE ON BOTH SIDES." "A BRITISH JOURNALIST REPORTED:" ""AT ITS MOST HIDEOUS, THIS CIVIL WAR HAS BEEN SIMPLE" ""MUSLIMS HAVE MURDERED CHRISTIANS" ""CHRISTIANS HAVE MURDERED MUSLIMS" ""NOT IN BATTLE, BUT IN COLD BLOOD." ""THESE MEN WERE INNOCENTS, KIDNAPPED IN THE STREET" ""TAKEN TO A SECRET PLACE, TORTURED, SHOT" ""AND THEN DUMPED IN THE STREET AGAIN" "FOR THEIR FAMILIES TO FIND."" "(tires squealing)" "Narrator:" "THE ISRAELI INTELLIGENCE OFFICER CONFIRMED" "DEEP ANTI-P.L.O. FEELING AMONG THE CHRISTIANS." ". THEY DESPERATELY NEEDED HELP" "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "THEY ASKED US FOR WEAPONS" " EVERYTHING." ". RIFLES, KALACHNIKOVS, UZIS" "THEY ASKED FOR CANNONS, WE GAVE THEM." "MORTARS AND TANKS, WE GAVE THEM." "Narrator:" "IN 1981, ARIEL SHARON BECAME ISRAEL'S DEFENSE MINISTER." "SOON AFTER, THE CHRISTIAN LEADERS CAME TO A BEIRUT BEACH" "TO AWAIT "A VISITOR."" "Translator:" "AS I LANDED, BASHIR GEMAYE L CAME TOWARDS ME." "HE HUGGED ME, SHOOK MY HAND." ". HE HAD HIS OFFICERS WITH HIM" "Narrator:" "BASHIR, THE SON OF CHRISTIAN LEADER PIERRE GEMAYEL" "NOW CONTROLLED THE WEAPONS SUPPLIED BY ISRAEL." "HE HAD RUTHLESSLY ELIMINATED HIS RIVALS" "AND UNITED ALL THE CHRISTIAN FORCES UNDER HIS COMMAND." ", AT A MEETING WITH THE CHRISTIAN LEADERS" "REVEALED A PLAN TO ROOT OUT THE PALESTINIANS." "(Pakradouni speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "HE TOLD THE CHRISTIAN LEADERS:" ""WE HAVE TAKEN A DECISION IN ISRAEL TO INVADE LEBANON." """ "Narrator:" "SHARON TOLD THE CHRISTIANS THEY WOULD HAVE TO HELP." ". ISRAEL'S TROOPS COULD NOT MARCH INTO AN ARAB CAPITAL" "EXPELLING TH FROM THE CITY" "WOULD BE THE TASK OF THE CHRISTIANS." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "I SAID, "REMEMBER, IF AN INVASION HAPPENS" ""IT'S A MISSION YOU WILL HAVE TO CARRY OUT." "YOU, AND ONLY YOU, CAN DO THIS."" "Narrator:" "BUT THE ISRAELIS COULD ADVANCE TO THE OUTSKIRTSF BEIRUT" "AND ENCIRCLE THE CITY." "SIX MONTHS LATER, THE PALESTINIANS PROVIDED ISRAEL" "WITH A PRETEXT FOR INVASION." "IN LONDON, THE ISRAELI AMBASSADOR WAS SHOT" "BY A PALESTINIAN." "E AS POLICE GATHERED EVIDENC" "PRIME MINISTER BEGIN SUMMONED HIS CABINET." "Translator:" "HE TURNED TO ME AND ASKED ME TO BRIEF MY COLLEAGUES." "Narrator:" "ARIEL SHARON SAID NOTHING" "ABOUAN TO ENCIRCLE BEIRUT." "HE SPOKE ONLY OF PUSHING THE PALESTINIANS BACK" "FROM ISRAEL'S NORTHERN BORDER." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "THEN, MR. ERLICH, GOD REST HIS SOUL, ASKED:" ""WHAT ABOUT BEIRUT?"" ""BEIRUT ISN'T IN THE PICTURE." ""THE PLAN IS TO CREATE A 40" " TO 45-KILOMETER AREA" "IN WHICH THERE WILL BE NO TERRORISTS."" "(artillery fire)" "Narrator:" "ISRAELI FORCES CROSSED THE BORDER" "AND MOVED RAPIDLY INTO LEBANON." "BUT PRIME MINISTER BEGIN REASSURED" "THE ISRAELI PARLIAMENT." "ABOVE" "THE JOB IS DONE." "ALL FIGHTING WILL STOP." "Sharon (translated):" "WE GOT INFORMATION THAT UNIT S OF THE FIRST SYRIAN DIVISION" "WERE MOVING SOUTH..." "TOWARDS THE BAKAA VALLEY IN LEBANON." "Narrator:" "SHARON PERSUADED BEGIN" "THAT ISRAEL'S TROOPS SHOULD NOW ADVANCE DEEPER INTO LEBANON" "TO OUTFLANK THIS SYRIAN FORCE." "IT WOULD MEAN GOING BEYOND 45 KILOMETERS." "Translator:" "WHO EVER SAID WE WOULD GIV E TERRORISTS IMMUNITY" "BENE?" "THE GOVERNMENT NEVER GAVE IMMUNITY" "TO ANY TERRORIST ANYWHERE." "WE WILL NOT GIVE IMMUNITY TO ANY TERRORIST ANYWHERE." "Narrator:" "WITHIN THREE DAYS OF TELLING THE" "THAT BEIRUT WAS "NOT IN THE PICTURE"" "ARIEL SHARON HAD MOVED ISRAEL'S TROOPS" "TO THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE LEBANESE CAPITAL." "FOR NINE WEEKS, THEY LAID SIEGE TO BEIRUT" "EXCHANGING FIRE WITH THE PALESTINIANS." "WE ARE HERE, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE HERE" "AND WE WILL DEFEND THIS CITY ." "THE FIRST..." "THE FIRST-- THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT" "IT IS THE FIRST ARAB CAPITAL" "WHICH THE ISRAELI ARE BLOCKADING." "IT IS VERY IMPORTANT." "S YOU HAVE TO PUT IN YOUR CONSIDERATION WHAT THIS MEAN" "FOR THE NEXT GENERATION." "WHAT HAVE BEEN DONE, YOU WILL PAY ITS PRICE." "K Narrator:" "THE HARDER ARAFAT FOUGHT BAC" "THE MORE PEOPLE IN LEBANON SUFFERED." "THEIR CAPITAL WAS BEING DESTROYED." "g)" "(rockets whooshing)" "EVEN LEBANESE MUSLIMS DEMANDED" "THAT ARAFAT AND HIS FIRUT." "(man speaking Arabic)" "I WAS THE ONE WHO HAD TO RAISE THE QUESTION WITH ARAFAT." "HE WAS SHOCKED." "NO ONE HAD SPOKEN TO HIM LIKE THAT BEFORE." "I SAID, "WELL, WE ARE INFORMING YOU NOW."" "Narrator:" "THE ISRAELIS DROVE THE MESSAGE HOME" ". BY STAYING CLOSE ON THE HEEL S OF THE PALESTINIAN LEADERS" "(man speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "THE ISRAELI ARMY SEEMED TO KNOW" "WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO BEFORE WE DID." "N IF WE SPOKE ABOUT FIGHTING O" "WE WERE ATTACKED BY THE ISRAELIS ONE HOUR LATER." ". THERE WAS A MEETING IN ONE OF OUR HEADQUARTERS" "AND I, UH..." "I TELL THEM, "PLEASE, GET OUT, GET OUT." "LEAVE IT."" "" JUST NOW, HE SAID, "YOU AR E INVITING US FOR A MEETING." "" SAID, "PLEASE, LEAVE THIS PLACE DIRECTLY." "I DON'T KNOW W." ". BELIEVE ME, I DON'T KNOW WHY" ". AFTER 15 MINUTES FROM OUR DEPARTURE, THEY BOMBED" "Narrator:" "IN A CELLAR UDER THE RUBBLE" "THE P.L.O. LEADERS FACED A STARK CHOICE." "(Hout speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "ARAFAT WAS CONVINCED THAT WE HAD TO EVACUATE BEIRUT." "BUT HE WAS CAREFUL TO AVOID BEING THE ONE" "WHO ORDERED PALESTINIAN FORCES TO LEAVE LEBANON." "HE WANTED A COLLECVE DECISION BY ALL THE FACTION LEADERS." "Narrator:" "THE PRICE OF FURTHER DEFIANC E WAS CLEAR." "(Hout speaking Arabic)" "." "Translator:" "SO WE TOOK A HARD DECISION" "I CAN SAY TODAY THAT EVERYBODY ACCEPTED IT." "ALL OF THE LEADERS OF THE PALESTINIAN REVOLUTION SAID YES." "Narrator:" "IN THE LAST DAYS OF AUGUST 1982" "THOUSANDS OF PALESTINIAN FIGHTERS WERE FORCED" "TO EVACUATE BEIRUT." "(soldier shouting triumphantly)" "Translator:" "NEARLY 15,000 MEN EXPELLED FROM BEIRUT." "THIS WAS UNPRECEDENTED." "AN ENTIRE TERRORIST ORGANIZATION EXPELLED FROM A CAPITAL." "(sirens wailing)" "Narrator:" "THEN, IN A MASSIVE EXPLOSION AT HIS PARTY HEADQUARTERS" "BASHIR GEMAYEL" "LEBANON'S PRESIDENT-ELECT AND ISRAEL'S ALLY" "WAS ASSASSINATED." "THE ISRAELI DEFENSE MINISTER BECAME CONVINCED" "THAT PALESTINIAN FIGHTERS WERE STILL OPERATING IN BEIRUT." "Translator:" "THEY LEFT BEHIND AT LEAST 2,000 ARMED MEN." "IT WAS CLEAR THAT ONCE THE CITY WAS UNITED" "IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST THEM." "Narrator:" "CHRISTIAN MILITIAMEN SOUGHT VENGEANCE" "FOR THE DEATH OF GEMAYEL." "S WHILE ISRAELI TROOPS STOOD BY, PROVIDING LIGHT FROM FLARE" "THE PHALANGISTS ENTERED THE PALESTINIAN CAMPS" "OF SABRA AND SHATILA." "THERE WERE NO P.L.O. FIGHTERS THERE." "THEY FOUND ONLY OLD MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN" "AND SLAUGHTERED THEM." "(shouting angrily)" "Translator:" "YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF!" "Translator:" "I AM NOT HERE TO EXPLAIN" "RIBLE TRAGEDY." "IT BELONGS TO A WORLD" "OF DARK MOTIVES" "NOT OUR WORLD." "ONLY THOSE WHO CARRIED IT OU CAN BE BLAMED FOR THIS MASSACRE." ". I HOPE THEY WILL BE PUNISHED" "(shouting angrily)" "Translator:" "YOU ARE AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE!" "YOU ARE WORSE THAN EVIL." "Narrator:" "IN THE LARGEST DEMONSTRATION IN ISRAEL'S HISTORY 400,000 PEOPLE PROTESTED ISRAEL'S ROLE IN THE MASSACRE." "IT IS TRUE THAT WE LOST OUR BASE IN BEIRUT" "BUT THEY LOST THE WAR." "(boat horn honks)" "Narrator:" "ONCE AGAIN, THROUGH A COMBINED EFFORT OF ARABS AND ISRAELIS" "THE P.L.O. HAD BEEN DRIVEN OUT OF AN ARAB COUNTRY." "YASSER ARAFAT, THE GREAT ESCAPER" "WAS ON HIS WAY TO YET ANOTHER BASE" "THIS TIME IN TUNIS, 2,000 MILES AWAY." "FUNDING FORTHE FIFTY YEARS WAR:" "ISRAEL AND THE ARABS" "WAS PROVIDED BY:" "AND PBS VIEWERS LIKE YOU." "PRESENTING HISTORY'S BEST ON PBS." "FUNDINFORTHE 50 YEARS WAR:" "ISRAEL AND THE ARABS" "WAS PROVIDED BY:" "AND PBS VIEWERS LIKE YOU." "Announcer:" "VICTORY IN THE WAR HAS NOT BROUGHT THE HOPED-FOR SOLUTION" "TO ALL THE PROBLEMS IN THIS PART OF THE MIDDLE EAST." "EGYPT, FOR EXAMPLE, DECLARES" "THAT SHE WILL NOT REOPEN THE SUEZ CANAL" "UNTIL ISRAEL GIVES UP ARAB TERRITORY SHE HAS CONQUERED" "WHICH THE ISRAELIS ARE NOT PREPARED TO DO." "Announcer:" "ISRAEL'S NEW PRIME MINISTER, MRS. GOLDA MEIR, VISITED TROOPS" "L IN THE SINAI DESERT NOT FAR FROM THE SUEZ CANA" "WHERE THE SHELLS CONTINUE TO FLY." "SHE WANTED A CHANCE TO INSPECT AND TALK TO THE MEN" "WHO WERE LIVING FACE-TO-FACE" ". WITH THE REALITIES OF THE MIDDLE-EAST SITUATION" "[Captioning sponsored by THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING and VIEWERS LIKE YOU]" "Narrator:" "THE DEATH OF PRESIDENT GAMAL ABDEL NASSER" "AFTER 18 YEARS IN POWER" "DEVASTATED EGYPT AND THE ENTIRE ARAB WORLD." "HIS SUCCESSOR, VICE-PRESIDENT ANWAR SADAT" "WAS CONSIDERED LITTLE MORE THAN A FIGUREHEAD." "(man speaking Russian)" "Translator:" "THOSE IN NASSER'S INNER CIRCLE" "THOUGHT THEY COULD STEER POLICY ON THE COURSE SET BY NASSER" "AND THEY WERE CONFIDENT" "THAT SADAT WOULD FOLLOW THE PARTY LINE." "Narrator:" "THE FUNERAL WAS A GRAND OCCASION" "FOR THE LEADERS OF THE ARAB STATES" ". AND NASSER'S SOVIET ALLIES" "NASSER HAD SEVERED RELATIONS WITH AMERICA" "SO THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM WASHINGTON ASSUMED" "HE WOULD BE IGNORED." "THEN A SOLDIER CAME INTO THE ROOM" "WEAVING HIS WAY THROUGH THE CROWD" "APPARENTLY, IT TURNED OUT, HEADING FOR ME." "Narrator:" "THE SOLDIER LED RICHARDSON AWAY" "OUT OF THE SIGHT OF THE WORLD'S PRESS" "AND THE WATCHFUL EYE OF THE K.G.B." "(speaking Russian)" "Translator:" "I WAS TRAINED TO SPOT ANYTHING THAT WAS GOING ON" "BUT IT WAS DIFFICULT IN THAT CHAOS." "WE WENT DOWN THE STAIRS." "THE LOWER FLOOR WAS DARKENED" "AND PROPPED UP IN A HOSPITAL BED WAS THE MAN" "WHO HAD JUST INHERITED THE PRESIDENCY OF EGYPT." "Narrator:" "PRESIDENT SADAT WAS RESTIN G AWAY FROM THE CROWDS" "AFTER APPARENTLY SUFFERING FROM HEATSTROKE." "Richardson:" "HE SAID THAT HE WANTED" "TO TAKE ADVANTAGE" "OF THEN A NEW PAGE" "IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OUR COUNTRIES." "Narrator:" "?" "E NEXT DAY, SADAT PUT ON A SHOW FOR THE AMERICAN MEDIA." "EGYPT WAS A SOVIET CLIENT STATE." "SADAT CONSIDERED ISRAEL TO BE AN AMERICAN ONE." "Sadat:" "THE UNITED STATES PROVIDE ISRAEL" "FROM THE LOAF OF BREAD TO THE PHANTOM TO THE..." "TO THE EVEN DEFICIT IN THE BUDGET ITSELF" "SO IT IS THE VEIN OF LIFE." "VEIN OF LIFE FOR ISRAEL GOES FROM THE UNITED STATES." "Narrator:" "SADAT DIDN'T WANT TO NEGOTIATE WITH ISRAEL HIMSELF." "ANS TO INTERVENE" ". TO DELIVER TO EGYPT THE TERRITORIES LOST IN 1967" "IN THE THREE YEARS SINCE THE WAR" "ISRAEL HAD ESTABLISHED A FORMIDABLE DEFENSE LINE" "ALONG THE SUEZ CANAL, 70 MILES FROM CAIRO." "(whistles)" "Translator:" "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" "WHY" "BECAUSE YOU ISRAELIS OCCUPY OUR LAND." "Narrator:" "THE SUEZ CANAL HAD BEEN CLOSED SINCE 1967." "SADAT NOW TOLD THE AMERICANS" "THAT IF ISRAEL MOVED BACK A FEW MILES FROM THE CANAL" "HE WOULD REOPEN IT" "EVEN TO SHIPS TRADING WITH ISRAEL." "SADAT'S PROPOSAL FOLLOWED STATEMENTS MADE BY MOSHE DAYAN" "ISRAEL'S DEFENSE MINISTER." "DAYAN SAID THAT THE SINAI SHOULD EVENTUALLY BE RETURNED TO EGYPT." "Dayan:" "WHAT WE SAY" "JUST BECAUSE THE WAR IS GOING ON." "BUT ONCE YOU AGREE TO MAKE PEACE AGREEMENT" "WE DON'T THINK WE SHOULD SIT ON YOUR SUEZ CANAL." "Narrator:" "GOLDA MEIR DIDN'T WANT TO NEGOTIATE THROUGH THE AMERICANS." "SHE WANTED DIRECT TALKS WITH SADAT." "I'M PREPARED TO GO TO CAIRO, I'M PREPARED TO GO TO DAMASCUS" "I AM PREPARED TO GO TO AMMAN" "I AM PREPARED TO GO TO BEIRUT, ANYWHERE." "Interviewer:" "YOU WOULD GO TO THESE PLACES?" "YES, HAPPILY..." "TO NEGOTIATE PEACE, OF COURSE." "N IN WASHINGTON, PRESIDENT NIXON LOOKED FOR THE RIGHT PERSO" "NTO URGE SADAT'S PROPOSAL IN WASHINGTON, PRESIDENT NIXON LOOKON GOLDA MEIR.HT PERSO" "HE CHOSE JOE SISCO." "Sisco:" "I CAN RECALL THE WORDS TO THIS DAY." "HE SAID, "JOE, PRESS GOLDA , PRESS HER HARD" ""BUT DON'T CAUSE A MAJOR DONNYBROOK" "BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE UNITED STATES."" "Narrator:" "SISCO MET WITH THE ENTIRE ISRAELI CABINET" "BUT ONLY GOLDA MEIR NEGOTIATED." "Sisco:" "GOLDA MEIR TOOK IT UPON HERSELF TO DO ALL OF THE TALKING." "IT WAS INTERESTING TO SEE EVERYONE HERE" ". ALL THE MINISTERS, NOBODY OPENING THEIR MOUTH" "WHAT THEY DID TO RELEASE THEIR TENSION" "WAS SENDING LITTLE NOTES TO EACH OTHER." "Eban:" "I SENT DAYAN A CHIT" "SAYING, "LISTEN, MOSHE, I THINK WE CAN GET YOU SOME SUPPORT."" "HE SENT BACK A VERY ABRUPT REPLY" "SAYING SARCASTICERY MUCH" "BUT IF GOLDA IS NOT THEN I 'M NOT FOR IT EITHER."" "SISCO SAW THAT SOMETHING WAS HAPPENING" "THAT NOBODY WAS SUPPOSED TO SPEAK THERE" "AND SO" " HE WAS A VERY SMART NEGOTIATOR" "HE ASKED THE PRIME MINISTE R WHETHER HE'S PERMITTED" "TO ASK T ONE QUESTION" "A PROFESSIONAL QUESTION." "SO WHAT COULD SHE SAY?" "I SAID TO HIM, "MR. MINISTER , IF WE DON'T DO ANYTHING" "WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN?"" "DAYAN SAID, "WELL, I CANNOT IMAGINE" ""THAT ANY GOVERNMENT WILL TOLERATE INDEFINITELY" ""A SITUATION WHERE A STRONG ARMY IS POISED" "AT THE GATES OF HIS CAPITAL"-- HE WAS EXAGGERATING" "AFTER ALL, OUR FORCES WERE AT A DISTANCE" "OF MORE THAN A HUNDRED KILOMETERS FROM CAIRO" ""AND THIS WILL LEAD TO WAR."" "Narrator:" "GOLDA MEIR STILL INSISTED ON DIRECT TALKS." "Sisco:" "THE NEXT DAY" "I WALKED UP WITH THESE FLORATHER GINGERLY" "AND SHE SAID TO ME" ""OH, JOE, NOW YOU'RE SAYING IT WITH FLOWERS." "IT WON'T DO YOU ANY GOOD."" "Narrator:" "IN CAIRO, ISRAEL'S REBUFF" "ALMOST BROUGHT ABOUT THE DOWNFALL OF THE MAN" "WHO HAD PROPOSED THE INITIATIVE, ANWAR SADAT." "SO HE REVERSED COURSE" "AND TRIED A TACTIC MORE LIKELY TO WIN ARAB SUPPORT." "(Sadat speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "WAR IS NOW INEVITABLE." "WHATEVER THE PRICE, WHATEVER THE SACRIFICE" "WE WILL NOT BACK DOWN." "WE WILL NOT GIVE UPARA B LAND." "(applause)" "I THOUGHT OF SADAT AS A CHARACTER OUT OFAIDA." "I DIDN'T TAKE HIM SERIOUSLY." "HE KEPT MAKING GRANDILOQUENT PRONOUNCEMENTS" "AND HE NEVER ACTED ON THEM" "SO I FRANKLY THOUGHT HE WAS BLUFFING." "Narrator:" "KISSINGER WAS TOO PREOCCUPIE D WITH THE VIETNAM WAR" "TO GIVE THE MIDDLE EAST MUCH ATTENTION..." "EVEN WHEN SADAT MADE ANOTHER OFFER." "HE WANTED ISRAEL TO RETURN TO THE '67 BORDERS" "IN RETURN FOR WHICH EGYPT WOULD BE WILLING TO MAKE PEACE" "WHICH WAS A BIG STEP, BECAUSE NOT..." "NO ARAB STATE HAD AS YET EVER FLATLY SAID" ". THAT THEY WOULD MAKE PEACE" "WE WERE IN NO POSITION TO HANDLE THAT." "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "SADAT TOLD ME THAT KISSINGER HAD SAID" ""IF ALL YOU HAVE IS A PROBLEM, I CANNOT DEAL WITH IT" "BUT IF IT BECOMES A CRISIS , THEN I CAN INTERVENE."" "Narrator:" "DISAPPOINTED WITH AMERICAN DIPLOMACY" "AND STILL UNWILLING TO TAL K TO ISRAEL DIRECTLY" "SADAT SET OUT TO PREPARE FOR WAR." "(man speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "THE HIGH COMMAND MET AT SADAT'S HOUSE IN GIZA." "SADAT TOLD US, "THERE IS NO HOPE OF A PEACEFUL SOLUTION" ""AND I WILL NOT SURRENDER TO ISRAEL" "" SO OUR ONLY OPTION IS WAR." "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "HE SAID, "GET ME BACK JUST TEN CENTIMETERS OF THE SINAI" "AND I WILL NEGOTIATE A MIRACLE."" "Narrator:" "SADAT THEN PROPOSED" "A SECRET ALLIANCE WITH PRESIDENT ASSAD OF SYRIA." "THEY AGREED TO PLAN A JOINT ATTACK ON ISRAEL." "SYRIA'S TOP GENERALS SAILE D TO ALEXANDRIA" "TO MEET THEIR EGYPTIAN COUNTERPARTS." "(Tlas speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "I WENT ON A RUSSIAN SHIP DRESSED IN CIVILIAN CLOTHES." "I HAD A FAKE EGYPTIAN PASSPORT" "AND WAS USING AN ALIAS-- JAMAL HASSAN." "Narrator:" "ONCE THEY ARRIVED, THEY KEPT UP THE SUBTERFUGE." ".l (translated):" "Narrator:" "IN THE EVENINGS, WE WENT TO A NIGHT CLUB, THE MUMTAZA" "WE WERE DRINKING AND HAVING FUN." "WE WANTED PEOPLE TO THINK WE WERE JUST ENJOYING OURSELVES" "AND THAT WE DID NOT HAVE A CARE IN THE WORLD." "Narrator:" "AT THE HOTEL, THE GENERALS DISCUSSED THE PLANS" "FOR THEIR JOINT ATTACK AND DECIDED ON A SPECIAL DATE." "FOR THE JEWS IT IS A HOLY DAY, A DAY OF REST." "Narrator:" "THE SYRIANS HOPED AT LEAST TO RECAPTURE THE GOLAN HEIGHTS" "TAKEN FROM THEM IN 1967." "TO KEEP ISRAEL'S TROOPS TIED DOWN" "THEY NEEDED EGYPTIAN FORCES TO ADVANCE ACROSS THE SINAI." "BUT THE EGYPTIANS HAD THEIR OWN PLAN." "THEY INTENDED TO LIMIT THEIR ADVANCE" "TO TERRITORY PROTECTED BY THEIR ANTI-AIRCRAFT MISSILES IN EGYPT." "Translator:" "OUR MISSILES COULD PROTECT U S FOR UP TO 12 KILOMETERS." ". THAT WOULD COMPENSATE FOR TH E INFERIORITY OF OUR AIR FORCE" "Narrator:" "EGYPT'S CHIEF OF STAFF URGED SADAT" ". TO STICK TO THEIR OWN PLAN" "THIS SECOND PLAN HAD US ADVANCING TO THE SINAI PASSE S" "BUT IT WAS DONE JUST FOR THE SYRIANS." "Translator:" "SO IT WAS AGREED" "THAT THE EGYPTIANS WOULD ADVANCE TO THE PASSES." "THEY WOULD PAUSE TO REORGANIZE AND THEN GO FORWARD AGAIN." "MEANWHILE, WE WOULD OCCUPY THE GOLAN HEIGHTS." "Narrator:" "WHATEVER PLANS THE EGYPTIANS ADOPTED" "FIRST THEY WOULD HAVE TO CROSS THE SUEZ CANAL" "AND DO IT UNDER THE GAZE OF ISRAELI TROOPS." "Translator:" "THE ENEMY ARE JUST 200 METERS AWAY." "I CA SEE ME." "HOW CAN I CATCH THEM BYURPRISE?" "I MUST HIDE MY INTENTIONS." "Gamasy (translated):" "WE CARRIED OUT MANY MILITARY EXERCISES." "THE AIM WAS TO DECEIVE ISRAELI INTELLIGENCE." "WE WANTED THEM TO THINK" "WE WERE EXPECTING AN ATTAC K FROM ISRAEL." "Narrator:" "NOW THE PRESIDENTS OF EGYPT AND SYRIA ALSO SET OUT TO DECEIVE" "THEIR FELLOW ARAB, JORDAN'S KING HUSSEIN." "THEY CLAIMED ISRAEL WAS ABOUT TO ATTACK THEM." "King Hussein:" "SADAT AND ASSAD WERE WORRIED ABOUT AN ATTACK ON SYRIA" "THAT COULD HAVE ONE OF ITS HOOKS COME THROUGH NORTHERN JORDAN ." "IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, I ASSURED THEM" "THAT AS FAR AS WE WERE CONCERNED" "NO ONE IS GOING TO USE OUR COUNTRY TO ATTACK ANYONE." "." "Narrator:" "KING HUSSEIN SMELLED A RAT" "THE LAST TIME EGYPT AND SYRI A HAD MANEUVERED HIM" "HE HAD ENDED UP LOSING A LARGE SLICE OF HIS KING" "SO HE FLEW OFF ALONE" "TELLING NO ONE HE WAS GOIN G TO MEET GOLDA MEIR." "I WAS VERY CONCERNED AND WORRIED" "P THAT A STATE OF NO PEACE AND NO WAR WAS GOING TO END US U" "IN A SERIOUS DIFFICULTY." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "KING HUSSEIN TALKED ABOUT ONLY ONE THING." "HE WARNED US TO EXPECT AN ATTACK FROM SYRIA AND EGYPT." ": THE PRIME MINISTER RECEIVE D THE KING ALONE" "BUT THE HEAD OF ISRAELI MILITARY INTELLIGENCE WAS LISTENING" "AS HUSSEIN WARNED OF THE SYRIAN- EGYPTIAN PREPARATIONS FOR WAR." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "SHE WAS NOT CONVINCED THIS INFORMATION WAS RELIABLE." "YOU SEE, KING HUSSEIN HIMSEL F WAS NOT 100% SURE." "Narrator:" "ING THE ISRAELI RESERVES" "GOLDA MEIR KEPT IN PLACE" "THE USUAL 450 TROOPS ALONG THE CANAL." "(Shazli speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "THE ATTACK WAS DUE ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6." "ON THE FRIDAY, I WENT DOWN AND LOOKED ACROSS THE CANAL." "ON THE OTHER SIDE NOTHING WAS MOVING." "I WENT BACK AND TOLD SADAT , "THEY CAN FIND OUT NOW." "I DON'T CARE."" "(many voices over radio)" "Narrator:" "IT WAS NOT TILL DAWN THE NEXT DAY" "E PREPARING TO GO TO SYNAGOGUE FOR YOM KIPPUR" "THAT EGYPT AND SYRIA WOULD ATTACK WITHIN HOURS." "O Narrator:" "THE ISRAELIS HEARD THE CALL TO ARMS ON THE RADI" "AND FROM RABBIS IN THEIR SYNAGOGUES." "AT 2:00 P.M., AS CIVILIANS WERE REPORTING FOR DUTY" "EGYPT OPENED FIRE." "." "Gamasy (translated):" "OUR TROOPS CROSSED THE CANAL" "THEY WERE SHOUTING, "GOD IS GREAT, GOD IS GREAT"" "AND THEY PLANTED THE EGYPTIA N FLAG ON THE SINAI ITSELF." "Sadat:" "ABOUT 6:00 I TOLD MY PEOPLE, MY FORCES" "FELICITATIONS." "THE ISRAELIS HAS LOST THEIR BALANCE." "." "Narrator:" "SADAT'S ARMIES DROVE THE ISRAELIS FROM THE SUEZ CANAL" "ISRAEL'S AIR FORCE TRIED TO RETALIATE" "BUT FAILED TO BREAK THROUG H EGYPT'S MISSILE COVER." "(explosion)" "THE EGYPTIANS ADVANCED EIGHT MILES INTO THE SINAI" "AND THEN STOPPED AS PLANNED." "IN THE NORTH, SYRIA'S ATTACK ALSO CAUGHT ISRAEL OFF BALANCE." "600 SYRIAN TANKS ROLLED OVER ISRAEL'S DEFENSES" ". AND ACROSS THE GOLAN HEIGHTS" "Man:" "WE WEREN'T READY TODAY." "WE CAME FROM, UH, THE HOME IN THE MIDDLE OF, UH, YOM KIPPUR." "Reporter:" "SO WHO WAS HERE?" "THAT WAS REGULAR SOLDIERS?" "YES, ONLY THE REGULAR." "SO THEY MUST HAVE HAD A HARD TIME." "OH, YEAH, VERY HARD." "DID YOU HAVE MANY CASUALTIES?" "WELL, WITH SUCH THINGS, WE DON'T ALWAYS..." "NOT ALLOWED TO TALK ABOUT THEM." "Narrator:" "THE SYRIANS WERE EXPECTED TO PRESS THEIR ADVANTAGE." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "WE MUST KEEP ON FIGHTING" "WITH ALL OUR COURAGE, FAITH AND TRUST" "AS A NATION THAT KNOWS WE'RE FIGHTING FOR OUR LIVES" "AND WEAREFIGHTING FOR OUR LIVES." "Narrator:" "ISRAEL'S DEFEAT APPEARED IMMINENT" "BUT ON THE FOURTH DAY" ". THE SYRIANS RAN INTO A LARGE ISRAELI FORCE" "ISRAEL HAD BEEN ABLE TO DIVERT TROOPS TO THE SYRIAN FRONT" "SYRIA'S PRESIDENT ASSAD DEMANDED TO KNOW" "WHY THE EGYPTIANS WERE NOT ADVANCING" "THROUGH THE SINAI AS AGREED." "Translator:" "THE PRESIDENT KEPT PHONING SADAT" "AND INSISTING, "THIS IS NOT WHAT WE AGREED." """ "SADAT NEVER GAVE HIM A STRAIGHT ANSWER." "Narrator:" "SYRIA APPEALED OVER SADAT'S HEAD TO THE SOVIET UNION" "STILL EGYPT'S PATRON." "THE SOVIET PRIME MINISTER CAME TO CAIRO TO SORT THINGS OUT." "(Kirpichenko speaking Russian)" "Translator:" "PRIME MINISTER KOSYGIN KEPT ASKING SADAT" "WHY HIS FORCES HAD STOPPED WITHOUT TAKING THE SINAI." "HE WAS INFURIATED BY SADAT'S ANSWERS." "Narrator:" "PRESIDENT SADAT YIELDED TO SOVIET PRESSURE" "E AND GAVE THE ORDER TO ADVANC" "MUCH TO THE DISMAY OF HIS CHIEF OF STAFF." "c) rabi" "Translator:" "IT WAS DOOMED TO FAILURE FROM THE START." "ISRAEL'S AIR FORCE WAS MUCH STRONGER THAN OURS." "Narrator:" "NOW THE WAR BEGAN TO SWING ISRAEL'S WAY." "IN THREE HOURS, 250 EGYPTIAN TANKS WERE DESTROYED" "BUT EGYPT STILL HAD TWO ARMIES IN THE SINAI." "THE ISRAELIS PLANNED A DARING COUP." "S THEY SET OUT TO CUT THROUG H THE GAP IN THE EGYPTIAN LINE" "CREATE A BRIDGEHEAD OVER THE CANAL" "AND SWEEP AROUND TO ISOLAT E THE EGYPTIAN THIRD ARMY." "THE ARCHITECT OF THE PLAN WAS GENERAL ARIEL SHARON." "(Sharon speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "WE SLIPPED THROUGH THE EGYPTIAN LINES WITHOUT MAJOR PROBLEMS." "BUT WHEN WE REACHED THE CANAL, THERE WAS A FEROCIOUS BATTLE." "BUT WHEN WE REACHED THE CANAL, THERE WAS A FEROCIOUS BATTLE." "EVENTUALLY, AT 1:00 IN THE MORNING" "THE PARATROOPERS CROSSED TO THE OTHER SIDE IN DINGHIES." "Narrator:" "THE NEXT DAY, ISRAELI FORCES RACED ACROSS THE CANAL" ". TO SECURE THEIR BRIDGEHEAD" "Sharon (translated):" "I WAS AT THE CANAL." "I COULD SEE THE TANKS CROSSING AND THE TREES ON THE OTHER SIDE." "IT WAS A GREAT FEELING." "Narrator:" "ISRAEL'S TROOPS WERE NOW ONLY HOURS FROM CAIRO." "PRESIDENT SADAT BEGGED THE SOVIETS TO ARRANGE A CEASE-FIRE." "THE ISRAELIS CROSSED THE CANAL" "AND ABOUT 24 HOURS LATER, WE GOT A MESSAGE FROM BREZHNEV" "INVITING ME TO COME TO MOSCOW." "(speaking Russian)" "Translator:" "WE THOUGHT KISSINGER'S VISIT TO MOSCOW WOULD BE USEFUL." "HE COULD HELP US STOP THE CONFLICT." "WE THOUGHT IT WOULD GIVE THE ISRAELIS MORE TIME" "IF I WENT TO MOSCOW" "BECAUSE NOTHING COULD HAPPEN UNTIL I GOT THERE." "WHILE I WAS IN THE AIR" "NIXON SENT A MESSAGE DIRECTLY TO BREZHNEV" "SAYING THAT I WAS FULLY AUTHORIZED TO CONCLUDE" "BUT I FRANKLY WANTED TO STALL." "Narrator:" "THE SOVIETS WERE IN SUCH A HURRY TO END THE FIGHTING" "THAT GENERAL SECRETARY BREZHNEV" "LED THE TALKS WITH KISSINGER HIMSELF." "Translator:" "HE INSISTED THAT THE ADVANCE BE STOPPED." "IN RETURN, KISSINGER WANTED THE ARABS" "?" "TO RECOGNIZE ISRAEL'S RIGHT TO EXIST." "Kissinger:" "WHAT WE SAID WAS" "THAT THERE SHOULD BE DIREC T NEGOTIATIONS AT SOME POINT" ". BETWEEN THE ARABS AND ISRAEL" "I TOLD BREZHNEV" "I WOULD CAREFULLY COMMUNICAT EVERYTHING HE SAID TO WASHINGTON" "BUT THAT THERE HAD TO BE SOME TIME INTERVAL" "SO THAT I COULD GET THE PRESIDENT'S VIEWS." "AND HE SAID, "NO, HERE'S A MESSAGE."" "AND HE GAVE ME POWER OF ATTORNEY THAT..." "IN EFFECT, POWER OF ATTORNEY" "THAT THE PRESIDENT HAD GIVEN ME, WHICH DID NOT THRILL ME." "Narrator:" "THE SECRETARY OF STATE REALIZED HE COULD STALL NO LONGER." "WHILE STILL IN MOSCOW, HE AGREED TO TERMS FOR A CEASE-FIRE." "ANOTHER FIVE DAYS BEFORE THE WAR ENDED." "DURING THAT TIME" "THE ISRAELIS ENCED THE EGYPTIAN THIRD ARMY." "A DAY LATERPPOSING GENERALS MET IN THE DESERT" "TO WORK OUT HOW TO DISENTANGLE THEIR FORCES." "IT WAS THE FIRST FORMAL MEETING" "OF EGYPTIAN AND ISRAELI OFFICERS IN 25 YEARS." "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "HE OFFERED ME COFFEE." "I SAID, "NO, THANK YOU."" "HE ASKED, "CAN I GET YOU ANYTHING ELSE?"" "I SAID NO." "HE SAID, "IT'S COLD." "CAN I GET YOU A COAT?"" "I SAID, "NO, THANK YOU."" "THAT WAS THE END OF THE FIRST MEETING." "Narrator:" "IT WAS A WEEK BEFORE THE EGYPTIAN GENERAL BEGAN TO RELAX." "(Gamasy speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "WE WENT OUT AND SAT ON THE SAND." "WE PUT A MAP DOWN IN FRONT OF US AND WE PUT STONES ON IT." "WE STARTED TO TALK ABOUT HOW TO DISENGAGE OUR FORCES." "(Tal speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "I SAID, "LOOK, WE HAVE TO EN D" ""THE FRICTION BETWEEN OUR FORCES." "L "THE ANSWER IS YOU GO BACK TO THE WEST SIDE OF THE CANA" "AND WE WILL PULL BACK TO THE EAST SIDE."" "Translator:" "I WENT AND TOLD SADAT WE HAD REACHED AN AGREEMENT." "HE WAS PLEASED WITH WHAT WE HAD ACHIEVED." "(calls out "God is great")" "(men repeat call)" "(repeats call)" "Narrator:" "EACH SIDE'S DEAD WERE RETURNED." "AND ISRAEL ALLOWED SUPPLIES THROUGH" "TO THE TRAPPED EGYPTIANS." "BUT SADAT WANTED MORE THAN A CEASE-FIRE AND A DISENGAGEMENT." "HE WANTED THE SINAI BACK" "BUT ONCE AGAIN, HE WOULD TAL K ONLY TO THE AMERICANS." "Kissinger:" "HE MILITARY UNIFORM" "AND SAID, I NEED A KISSINGER PLAN." "I AGREED TO DO A SHUTTLE AND SETTLE IT FAST" "AND HE SAID HE WOULD MAKE MAJOR CONCESSIONS TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE." "Narrator:" "KISSINGER DECIDED THE WAY FORWARD" "WAS TO BRING ALL THE PARTIES TO A PEACE CONFERENCE IN GENEVA." "I NEVER THOUGHT YOU WOULD KISS A WOMAN." "(laughter)" "Man:" "HE'S KISSINGER." "AFTER ALL, HE'S KISSINGER." "I WONDER WHO 'S "KISSING HER " NOW." "(laughter)" "Narrator:" "THE EGYPTIANS AND ISRAELIS AGREED TO ATTEND THE CONFERENCE." "AND THEN THERE WAS PRESIDENT ASSAD OF SYRIA." "Kissinger:" "I HAD HEARD HE WAS IMPOSSIBLE, BUT HE GREETED ME" "WITH EXTRAORDINARY POLITENES S AND COURTESY" "AND I SAID, "YOU KNOW, IT'S AMAZING." "THEY ALL ACCUSE YOU OF BEING SO DIFFICULT."" "Translator:" "WHENEVER KISSINGER WANTED TO CHANGE THE DATE OR VENU E" "PRESIDENT ASSAD AGREED." "" KISSINGER TOLD HIM, "YOU ARE SO ACCOMMODATING." "Kissinger:" "I GOT OVERCONFIDENT AND I SAID" ""IS THERE ANYTHING I SHOULD HAVE ASKED YOU THAT I DIDN'T?"" "HE SAID, "YES." "YOU DIDN'T ASK ME WHETHER I AM GOING TO THE CONFERENCE."" "I SAID, "ARE YOU?"" "HE SAID, "NO."" "Narrator:" "ASSAD DID NOT WANT TO NEGOTIATE WITH ISRAEL." "BUT KISSINGER WAS ABLE TO GET THE RIVAL ARMIES TO DISENGAGE." "(crowd cheering)" "SADAT THEN ATTEMPTED TO STRENGTHEN HIS HAND" ". BY EMB SYRIAN AND PALESTINIAN OBJECTIVES" "ISRAEL MUST MOVE ON ALL THE FRONTS:" "THE EGYPTIAN FRONT, THE SYRIAN FRONT" "THE JORDANIAN FRONT, THE PALESTINIAN FRONT." "Narrator:" "AT A TIME WHEN ARAFAT WANTED TO REPLACE" "ISRAEL WITH A PALESTINIAN STATE, SADAT PLEDGED UNITY." "YOU SEE, WE ARE COOPERATING TOGETHE R" "AND AS WE HAVE MENTIONED" "EGYPTIANS, SYRIANS AND THE PALESTINIANS." "Narrator:" "TWO RESTLESS YEARS PASSED." "THEN ISRAELI ELECTIONS BROUGHT FORTH A LEADER" "DETERMINED TO HOLD ON TO THE WEST BANK AND GAZA." "WHAT OCCUPIED TERRITORIES?" "IF YOU MEAN JUDEA, SAMARIA AND THE GAZA STRIP" "THEY ARE LIBERATED TERRITORIES." "EY ARE PART, AN INTEGRAL PART, OF THE LAND OF ISRAEL." "S Narrator:" "THE NEW PRIME MINISTER MAD E THE BUILDING OF SETTLEMENT" "HIS FIRST PRIORITY" " SETTLEMENTS LIKE THE NEW TOWN OF YAMIT" "BEGIN WAS HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS OF SADAT." "SADAT IS AN IMPLACABLE ENEMY OF ISRAEL." "THIS IS ALSO THE TRUTH." "HE IS NO FOOL, BUT HE IS AN ENEMY." "Narrator:" "SADAT'S RESPONSE WOULD WRITE HIS NAME INDELIBLY" "INTO THE HISTORY BOOKS." "HE ANNOUNCED HE WOULD MAKE A KEYNOTE SPEECH" ". TO THE EGYPTIAN PARLIAMENT" "HE INVITED THE LEADER OF THE P.L.O. TO ATTEND." "Man:" "ARAFAT WAS HAPPY TO BE IN THE PARLIAMENT" "AND HE WAS HAPPY" "THAT SADAT IS PAYING ATTENTION" "TO THE PALESTINIAN PROBLEM ." "(Gamasy speaking Arabic)" "." "Translator:" "SADAT PUT HIS TEXT ASIDE BUT HE CARRIED ON SPEAKING" "R I TOLD THE FOREIGN MINISTE" ""HE IS ABOUT TO THROW A POLITICAL GRENADE."" "G Narrator:" "AFTER SEVEN YEARS OF TRYIN" "EVERYTHING ELSE BUT TALKING TO ISRAEL" "SADARAB TABOO." "Sadat (translated):" "I AM WILLING TO GO ANYWHERE." "M ISRAEL WILL BE SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT I AM READY TO GO TO THE" "EVEN TO THE KNESSET ITSELF AND NEGOTIATE WITH THEM." "Narrator:" "THE IDEA THAT SADAT WOULD NEGOTIATE DIRECTLY WITH ISRAEL" "WAS SO UNTHINKABLE" ". THE AUDIENCE APPLAUDED WITHOUT REALIZING WHAT HE HAD SAID" "(man speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "EVERYONE WAS APPLAUDING SADAT." "EVEN YASSER ARAFAT WAS CLAPPING." "I KNOW, BECAUSE HE WAS SITTING NEXT TO ME." "Narrator:" "IN TEL AVIV, NO ONE WAS SURE IF SADAT REALLY MEANT IT." "(man speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "SADAT THEN SAID" "IF BEGIN INVITED HIM, HE WOULD COME NEXT WEEK." "AT THE HILTON HOTE" "Pattir (translated):" "THE HEAD OF CBS IN ISRAEL" "WANTED BEGIN'S REAION." "BEGIN WAS EATING AT THE HEAD TABLE." "I WENT UP AND GAVE HIM THMESSAGE." "HE SAID, "SURE, I'LL INVIT E SADAT FROM HERE."" "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I HEREBY INVITE PRESIDENT SADAT" "ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMEN T OF ISRAEL" "TO COME TO JERUSALEM AND TO START NEGOTIATIONS" "TO ESTABLISH PERMANENT PEACE BETWEEN ISRAEL AND EGYPT." "NarratEPTING THE INV ITATION, SADAT FLEW TO SYRIA" "TO PERSUADE PRESIDENT ASSA D THAT THE TRIP TO JERUSALEM" "WOULD NOT BE A BETRAYAL OF THE ARAB CAUSE." "WE ASKED THE PRESIDENTL TO ARREST SADATSE.or:" ". TO STOP HIM GOING ANYWHERE" "Narrator:" "BUT ASSAD CONSIDERED SADAT HIS GUEST" "AND PREFERRED TO HEAR HIM OUT." "Khalil (translated):" "PRESIDENT ASSAD WAS TRYING" "TO MAKE SADAT CHANGE HIS MIND." "Sadat:" "HE TOLD ME IT WILL BE PROVED" "THAT YOU ARE WRONG." "I SAID, "VERY WELL, ASSAD." ""THIS IS A SACRED MISSION FOR ME" ""AND IF THIS IS GOING TO BE THE LAST MISSION AS A PRESIDENT" "I SHALL BE VERY HAPPY TO FULFILL IT."" "Translator:" "PRESIDENT ASSAD WAS NOT IMPRESSED." "THEY TALKED FOR SEVEN HOURS." "Narrator:" "ASSAD'S MINISTERS URGED HIM TO ACT." "THE PRESIDENTIAL GUARD WAS STANDING BY." "Translator:" "PRESIDENT ASSAD REFUSED." "HE SAID, "IT IS AGAINST THE ARAB TRADITION" "FOR A MAN TO ARREST HIS GUEST."" "Narrator:" "PRESIDENT SADAT RETURNED SAFELY TO EGYPT." "THREE DAYS LATER, HE SET OFF FOR JERUSALEM." "Gamasy (translated):" "I FEARED FOR HIS SAFETY." "WE HAD BEEN ENEMIES FOR 40 YEARS." "HE WAS PUTTING HIMSELF AT THEIR MERCY." "HE WOUHERE THAT NIGHT." "S VERY ANXIOUS." "(band playing)" "Pattir (translated):" "SADAT'S PLANE WAS LATE." "I OVERHEARD A SENIOR SECURITY OFFICER TALKING." "HE WAS SAYING, "HOLD ON." ""MAYBE INSTEAD OF SADAT" ""THERE IS A SUICIDE SQUAD ON THE PLANE" "AND THEY WILL JUMP OUT AND KILL THE ASSEMBLED ISRAELI LEADERS."" "(fanfare playing)" "(applause)" "WHEN WE ARRIVED IN TEL AVI V" "IT WAS LIKE I WAS COMING TO OUT OF SPACE." "IT WAS SOMETHING COMPLETELY NEW." "I FIND MYSELF IN A CAR, SITTING NEAR MOSHE DAYAN" "AND WE HAVE TO FIND HOW TO BEGIN A CONVERSATION." "K AND I HAVE READ IN THE BOO" "THAT HE WAS INTERESTED IN ARCHAEOLOGY" "S INTERESTED IN ARCHAEOLOGY WA" "AND WE BEGIN TO TALK ARCHAEOLOGY." "Narrator:" "THE ISRAELI PEOPLE GREETED SADAT'S ARRIVAL FROM EGYPT" "AS THOUGH HE WERE MOSES COME AGAIN." "(applause)" "Translator:" "I COME TO YOU TODAY WITH A FIRM DESIRE TO MAKE PEACE." "Narrator:" "SADAT OFFERED PEACE, BUT HE WAS CAREFUL NOT TO ABANDON" "THE OTHER ARAB STATES OR THE PALESTINIANS." "Translator:" "THERE ARE ARAB LANDS STILL UNDER ISRAELI OCCUPATION." "WE INSIST ON COMPLETE WITHDRAWAL FROM THESE TERRITORIES" "INCLUDING ARAB JERUSALEM." "Translator IT WAS QUITE A SPEECH, QUITE DISTURBING." "I PASSED A NOTE TO BEGIN SAYING, "WE MUST BE ON OUR GUARD."" "Translator:" "EZER WEIZMAN, THE DEFENSE MINISTER" "WHO WAS A GREAT ADVOCATE FOR PEACE" "SAID WHEN HE HEARD THE SPEEC H" "THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD MOBILIZ E THE RESERVES." "Narrator:" "THE VISITORS WENT FROM THE KNESSET" ". TO A DINNER IN THEIR HONOR" "IT WAS A KIND OF DINNER WHERE THERE WAS NOT MUCH TALK." "THE ATMOSPHERE WAS COOL." "Khalil (translated):" "PRESIDENT SADAT AND MR. BEGI WERE NOT SPEAKING TO EACH OTHER." "THEY WERE SITTING WITH THEIR BACKS TO EACH OTHER." "I DECIDED TO INVITE EZER WEIZMAN AND ANOTHER MINISTER" "UP TO MY SUITE AFTER DINNER." "MUSTAFA KHALIL TOLD ME, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING" "OTHERWISE THE WHOLE TRIP WILL BE WITHOUT ANY FOLLOW-UP." "WHAT ABOUT HAVING A MEETING TOGETHER?" "I SAID, NO OBJECTION." "Translator:" "SO NOW I FOUND MYSELF SITTIN G WITH OUR WORST ENEMY" "AT THE KING DAVID HOTEL DRINKING BLACK LABEL." "I WANT TO ENTER DIRECTLY IN THE PROCESS" "Y HAT ARE THE PROBLEMS OF CAIRO TODA" "AND THE PROBLEMS OF EGYPT" "AND THIS IS WHY WE NEED PEACE." "Translator:" "I SAID, "LET ME SHOW YOU SOMETHING."" "I TOOK HIM TO THE WINDOW." "I SAID, "TAKE A GOOD LOOK." "DO YOU REALLY THINK YOU CAN DIVIDE THIS CITY?"" "Boutros-Ghali:" "I SAY THE SOLUTION IS" "DIRECT TALK WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF ISRAEL" "AND THROUGH THIS DIRECT TALK , DIRECT CONTACT" "(camera shutters clicking)" "Narrator:" "IT WASN'T THAT SIMPLE." "M AFTER THE TRIP TO JERUSALE" "THE TWO SIDES CONTINUED TO TALK FOR SEVEN MONTHS." "I'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK OR IN TWO WEEKS' TIME." "Narrator:" "BUT BEGIN WOULD NOT GIVE AN INCH." "SADAT CONFIDED IN THE NEW PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES." "SADAT FELT THAT THE PEACE PROCESS" "INSTEAD OF HAVING BEEN MOVED FORWARD" "HAD ACTUALLY BEEN ALMOST TERMINATED" "BY A FRUITLESS GESTURE TO GO TO JERUSALEM." "SO HE WAS QUITE DISCOURAGED." "I ASK PRESIDENT CARTER, THE SENATE, THE CONGRESS" "TO TAKE THEIR SHARE AS FULL PARTNERS" ". IN THE DISPUTE THAT'S BETWEEN US AND ISRAEL" "I'M WAITING FOR THIS MOMENT." "I FOUND MYSELF ISOLATED FROM ALL MY ADVISORS." "ALL OF THEM THOUGHT THAT IT WAS A BAD IDEA." "Narrator:" "PRESIDENT CARTER THEN SET OUT TO RESOLVE 30 YEARS OF CONFLICT" "IN A WEEK OF TALKS" "AT THE PRESIDENTIAL RETREA T AT CAMP DAVID." "Boutros-Ghali:" "WE ARRIVED BY HELICOPTERS" "AND WE FIND THIS KIND OF SMALL BUNGALOWS IN THE FOREST" "PEOPLE QUITE RELAXED, PEOPLE USING BICYCLES." "IT WAS QUITE STRANGE FOR US." "Narrator:" "SOME OF THE AMERICANS EVEN BROUGHT THEIR CHILDREN." "R THE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISO" "S CHALLENGED ISRAEL'S PRIME MINISTER TO A GAME OF CHES" "AND GOT A PREVIEW OF HIS NEGOTIATING TECHNIQUE." "I WAS ABOUT TO MAKE MY FIRST MOVE" "WHEN HE DRAMATICALLY S MY HAND IN MIDAIR" "AND LOOKED ME STRAIGHT IN THE EYE AND SAID" "AND HE'S ALWAYS VERY SERIOUS AND FORMAL" "BRZEZINSKI, DO YOU KNOW AND HE'S ALWAYS VERY SERIOUS AND FORMAL--R." "WHEN I PLAYED MY LAST CHESS GAME?"" "AND QUITE FRANKLY, I WAS A LITTLE DISMAYED" ". BECAUSE I COULDN'T CARE LESS" "AND HE SAYS TO ME, "SEPTEMBER 1940" ""WHEN THE N.K.V.DING PLACE I N VILNA" "EST ME."" "SO I SAID TO MYSELF, "OH, MY GOD."" "AND IN THE MIDST OF THE GAME , MRS. BEGIN APPEARS." "SHE LOOKS AT US" "AND SAYS, "OH, THE TWO OF YO U ARE PLAYING CHESS." ""YOU KNOW, MR. BRZEZINSKI, MENACHEM JUST LOVES TO PLAY." "HE JUST LOVES TO PLAY, HE PLAYS ALL THE TIME."" "Narrator:" "WHEN PRESIDENT CARTER BROUGH T THE TWO LEADERS TOGETHER" "SADAT LISTED THE DEMANDS:" "THE RETURN OF THE SINAI TO EGYPT" "AND A PALESTINIAN STATE IN THE WEST BANK" "E SADAT AND I BOTH KNEW THAT THIS WAS NOT GOING TO B" "AT ALL ACCEPTABLE TO ME OR THE ISRAELIS." "Translator:" "WE ALL HIT THE ROOF, NOT JUST BEGIN." "THEY WERE TAKING A HARD LINE ." "WE ALL SAID, "THIS SIMPLY WON'T WORK."" "THEY WANTED TO STORM OUT, TO TERMINATE THE TALKS" "AND I JUMPED UP FROM THE DESK WHERE I WAS SITTING AND WRITING" "AND GOT IN THE DOOR IN FRONT OF THEM" "AND I WOULDN'T LET THEM GET OUT OF THE ROOM" "UNTIL THEY BOTH AGREED TO LET ME TRY TO CONTINUE." "AND AFTER THAT" "THE TWO MEN NEVER SAW EACH OTHER FOR THE NEXT TEN DAYS." "Brzezinski:" "THE INCOMPATIBILITIES BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES" "WERE SO INTENSE" "THAT SOME SORT OF AN AMERICA N DOCUMENT BRIDGING THE GAP" "S AND EXTRACTING FROM EACH SID E THOSE RELATIVELY FEW ELEMENT" "ON THE PART OF EACH SIDE THAT WERE OF A COMPROMISE NATURE" "SEEMED TO US TO BE THE ONLY WAY TO PROCEED." "Carter:" "SO I CARRIED THE SAME TEXT BACK AND FORTH." "BEGIN AND SADAT AGREED TO GO WITH THE SAME TEXT" "WITH BRACKETS AND MODIFICATIONS AND MARGINAL NOTES." "Narrator:" "CARTER FOCUSED THEIR ATTENTION ON A CLAUSE" "THAT WOULD REQUIRE ISRAEL TO GIVE UP GAZA AND THE WEST BANK" "TO THE PALESTINIANS." "S BEGIN SIMPLY DUG IN HIS HEEL" "AND SAYS, "THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE."" "AS FAR AS HE WAS CONCERNED" "THIS WAS GREATER ISRAEL ERISRAEL" "AND THEY HADN'T ACQUIRED TERRITORY BY FORCE." "IT HAD ALWAYS BEEN ORDAINE D AS PART OF ISRAEL." "T Narrator:" "BEGIN REMAINED INTRANSIGEN" "SO CARTER PERSUADED SADAT TO GIVE UP HIS DEMAND" "FOR A PALESTINIAN STATE" "TO THE OUTRAGE OF HIS ADVISORS." "." "Boutros-Ghali:" "IT WAS A REAL SHOCK FOR US" "OUR MAIN PREOCCUPATION WAS TO AVOID A BILATERAL AGREEMENT" "BETWEEN ISRAEL AND EGYPT" "AT THE EXPENSE ESTINIANS." "Narrator:" "BUT THAT WASN'T ENOUGH FOR THE ISRAELIS." "" Boutros-Ghali:" "THEY SAY, "NO, NO, NO, NO." "THEY ARE REFUSING TO WITHDRA W FROM THE SINAI" "THAT THEY WANT TO MAINTAIN THE THREE AIRPORTS" "THAT THEY WANT TO MAINTAIN THE SETTLEMENTS." "T Narrator:" "THE ISRAELIS DELEGATED MOSHE DAYAN TO CONVINCE SADA" "DAYAN TOLD HIM, "MR. PRESIDENT, IF ANYBODY" ""THAT ISRAEL CAN LEAVE THE SINAI SETTLEMENTS" "THEY ARE DELUDING YOU."" "PRESIDENT SADAT WAS SO UPSET THAT HE ASKED ME FOR AIRPLANES." "HE SAID, "I'M LEAVING." ""IF I CANNOT EVEN GET SINAI BACK" "THEN WHAT IS THE USE OF MY CONTINUING THIS PEACE PROCESS?"" "Carter:" "I ASKED SADAT" "IF HE WOULD GO BACK IN HIS CABIN AND TALK TO ME." "ALL OF HIS BAGS WERE ON THE FRONT PORCH." "I TOLD SADAT HE HAD BETRAYED OUR FRIENDSHIP" "HE HAD VIOLATED A COMMITMENT THAT HE MADE TO ME" "THAT HE WOULD GIVE ME FULL OPPORTUNITY" "TO RESOLVE ANY DIFFERENCES THAT AROSE" "AND THAT I THOUGHT THAT HIS PREEMPTORY ACTION" "IN LEAVING WITHOUT GIVING ME ANOTHER CHANCE" "WOULD ALSO SERIOUSLY AND ADVERSELY AFFECT" "THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN OUR TWO COUNTRIES." "Narrator:" "SADAT UNPACKED HIS BAGS." "CARTER WOULD NOW HAVE TO GET THE ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER TO YIELD." "." "Brzezinski:" "I WAS ABOUT TO PLAY TENNIS" "I WAS DRESSED IN WHITES." "BEGIN WAS ALWAYS DRESSED AS IF HE WAS ABOUT TO GO TO A FUNERAL" "AND WE WENT FOR A WALK IN THE CAMP DAVID WOODS." "AND HE SAYS TO ME VERY DRAMATICALLY" ""I WANT YOU TO UNDERIGHT EYE W ILL FALL OUT" ""MY RIGHT HAND WILL FALL OFF" "PERMITTING THE DISMANTLING OF A SINGLE JEWISH SETTLEMENT." "PRIME MINISTER BEGIN HAD TAKEN A SOLEMN OATH" "BEFORE GOD AND THE ISRAELI PEOPLE" "THAT HE WOULD NOT DISMANTL E ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS" "SO I HAD TO DEVISE AN ALTERNATIVE TO THAT" ". SO THAT HE WOULD NOT DO IT" "S Narrator:" "CARTER URGED BEGIN'S ADVISOR" ". TO FIND A WAY AROUND THEIR PRIME MINISTER'S SOLEMN OATH" "Carter:" "THE ONLY WAY WAS" "TO LET THE KNESSET MAKE THE DECISION AND NOT HIM." "DAYAN AND WEIZMAN STARTED SPEAKING UP TO BEGIN" "IN HEBREW RATHER THAN IN ENGLISH AS THEY DID IN THE PAST." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "I SAID, "WE CANNOT GO BACK EMPTY-HANDED." "" WE MUST FIND A COMPROMISE." "Narrator:" "BEGIN'S COLLEAGUES CONCLUDED" "THAT THE ONLY WAY TO PERSUADE HIM" "THAT DISMANTLING THE SETTLEMENTS WOULD NOT DAMAGE HIM POLITICALLY" "WAS TO GET THE SETTLERS' CHAMPION ON THE PHONE." "(Sharon speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "PRIME MINISTER BEGIN, GOD REST HIS SOUL, TOLD ME" ""THERE ARE PROBLEMS" "OVER THE JEWISH SETTLEMENT S IN THE SINAI."" "HE WANTED TO KNOW WHERE I STOOD." ": I ANSWERED IN ONE SENTENCE" ""I WILL SUPPORT ANY DECISION YOU TAKE."" "Narrator:" "PRIME MINISTER BEGIN'S PHONE CALL OPENED THE WAY" "FOR A WHITE HOUSE CEREMONY ." "THE KNESSET VOTED TO DISMANTLE THE SINAI SETTLEMENTS." "EGYPT BECAME THE FIRST ARAB STATE" "TO RECOGNIZE ISRAEL'S RIGHT TO EXIST." ". ISRAEL GAVE BACK THE SINAI" "LET'S HAVE A HANDSHAKE BEFORE..." "Narrator:" "SADAT AND BEGIN WERE AWARDED THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE." "Carter:" "I'M SO PROUD OF BOTH OF YOU." "GOD BLESS YOU BOTH." "Boutros-Ghali:" "WHILE WE HAVE THE CEREMONY" "AND THE DIFFERENT SPEECHES AND THE DIFFERENT SIGNATUR E" "WE WERE LISTENING TO THE PALESTINIANS WHICH WERE OUTSIDE" "AND WAS JUST SHOUTING TO REMIND US" "THAT THE PALESTINIAN PROBLEM HAVE NOT BEEN SOLVED." "(crowd chanting and yelling)" "Narrator:" "THE PEACE WITH ISRAEL THAT SADAT CONCLUDED" "HAS LASTED TO THIS DAY." "BUT MANY ARABS WERE ENRAGED." "TWO YEARS LATER, AT A MILITARY DISPLAY IN CAIRO" "ISLAMIC EXTREMISTS ASSASSINATED ANWAR SADAT." "(multiple gunshots)" "(yelling and gunshots)" "Newscaster:" "THE ISRAELIS CAME 1,500 MILES, SCORED A DIRECT HIT" "ON T BASED IN TUNIS" ". AND ONLY JUST MISSED THE P.L.O. LEADER, YASSER ARAFAT" "IT WAS A REVENGE RAID BY THE ISRAELIS" "FOLLOWING LAST WEEK'S ATTACK ON AN ISRAELI YACHT IN CYPRUS." ". THREE PEOPLE WERE KILLED B Y A P.L.O. UNIT FROM TUNISIA" "AS A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE, IT IS OUR VIEW" "THAT IT IS LEGITIMATE SELF DEFENSE TO RESPOND APPROPRIATELY" "TO ACTS OF TERRORISM." "Narrator:" "AS TERRORIST WARFARE CONTINUED" "A PLANELOAD OF ISRAELIS ARRIVED AT HEATHROW AIRPORT." "THE PASSENGERS HAD NO IDEA THAT AMONG THEM" "WAS THEIR FOREIGN MINISTER ON A TOP-SECRET MISSION." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "I CAME DISGUISED IN A WIG AND GLASSES." "WHEN I GOT TO PASSPORT CONTROL" "HE ASKED, "ON HOLIDAY OR BUSINESS?"" "I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY." "FINALLY I SAID, "ON BUSINESS."" "Narrator:" "SHIMON PERES WANTED TO EXTEN D THE PEACE WITH" "TO JNS." "THAT SAME DAY" "KING HUSSEIN OF JORDAN PILOTED HIS OWN PLANE TO LONDON." "HE HAD BEEN INVITED TO MEE T PERES BY A MUTUAL FRIEND." "King Hussein:" "I HAD MANY QUESTIONS IN MY MIND ABOUT IT" "BUT HE DIDN'T GIVE ME ANY DETAIL." "HE JUST TOLD ME THAT HE HAD CONTACTS WITH PERES" "WHICH WERE A BEGINNING OF TALK ABOUT WHAT COULD BE DONE." "Narrator:" "THE BRITISH LAWYER, LORD MISHCON" "HAD PROVIDED THE MEETING PLACE AND GIVEN HIS STAFF THE DAY OFF." "(speaking Hebrew)" "" Translator:" "KING HUSSEIN SAID, "WE'LL WASH UP THE DISHES." "I IMMEDIATELY AGREED." "BUT MRS. MISHCON SAID, "NO."" "SHE WOULDN'T DREAM OF LETTIN G A KING DO HER DISHES." "Narrator:" "THEY NOW SETTLED DOWN TO WORK OUT" "HOW TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF NEGOTIATIONS." "ISRAEL STILL DIDN'T WANT TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE P.L.O." "N WHICH IT SAW AS A TERRORIST ORGANIZATIO" ". DEDICATED TO ITS DESTRUCTION" "King Hussein:" "WE DISCUSSED THE IMPASSE." "S THE PROBLEM WAS HOW TO GET THE PALESTINIAN" "TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE" "AGAINST ISRAELI OPPOSITION, AGAINST AMERICAN OPPOSITION." "Translator:" "HUSSEIN SAID, "IF YOU WERE CLEVER" ""YOU WOULD RECOGNIZE THE P.L.O." ""THAT WOULD SHOW EVERYONE THE TRUTH" "THE P.L.O. IS JUST UNWILLING TO NEGOTIATE."" "Narrator:" "ISRAEL WAS WILLING TO NEGOTIATE ONLY WITH THOSE PALESTINIANS" "RECOGNIZING THE RIGHT OF ISRAEL TO EXIST." "S Translator:" "PEACE TALKS WITH PALESTINIAN" "WHO ACCEPTED ISRAEL'S RIGHT TO EXIST WOULD EXCLUDE THE P.L.O." "I TOOK A BIT OF TIME TO THINK ABOUT IT" "SAME TIME TO, UH..." "I TOOK A BIT OF TIME TO THINK ABOUT ITAT THE" "TO SEE IF I HAD ANY LAST THOUGHTS" "BEFORE SUCH A MONUMENTAL DECISION WAS TAKEN." "AND THEN I DECIDED, ALL RIGHT, FINE, WE'LL GO." "Narrator:" "THE IDEA THEY CAME UP WITH" "WAS A PEACE CONFERENCE THAT EXCLUDED THE P.L.O." "BACK IN ISRAEL, SHIMON PERES FACED A DIFFICULT MEETING" "WITH HIS PRIME MINISTER, YITZHAK SHAMIR." "WAS PART OF A COALITION PERES'S MODERATE LABOR PARTY" "THAT STRADDLED THE DIVIDE OF ISRAELI POLITICS." "SHAMIR, A HARD-LINER, OPPOSED THE CONFERENCE." "HE WANTED TO NEGOTIATE SEPARATELY" "WITH EACH ARAB COUNTRY" ". AND DIDN'T WANT TO DEAL WITH THE PALESTINIANS AT ALL" "Translator:" "HE SAID HE'D AGREED WITH KING" "TO HOLD AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE." "AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE?" "FOR ME, THAT WOULD BE AS BAD AS A PIG IN THE TEMPLE." "Narrator:" "SHAMIR MISTRUSTED PERES." "HE FEARED ISRAEL WOULD BE OUTNUMBERED BY THE ARAB STATES" "AT THE CONFERENCE." "PERES ASSURED HIM THE CONFERENCE WOULD QUICKLY ADJOURN" "INTO INDIVIDUAL TALKS WITH EACH ARAB STATE." "AND THE P.L.O. WOULD NOT BE INVITED." "Translator:" "I SAID, "LEAVE THE TEXT, I'LL READ IT LATER."" "Translator:" "I SAID, "NO, I CAN'T" ""YOUR STAFF MIGHT LEAK IT AND SPOIL MY PLAN." "IT HAS TO LOOK LIKE IT COMES FROM THE AMERICANS."" "D Narrator:" "PERES AND KING HUSSEIN AGREE" "THAT ONLY AMERICA HAD THE CLOUT TO GET EVERYONE TO ATTEND." "SO PERES THEN CONTACTED THE AMERICAN SECRETARY OF STATE." "WHAT HE PROPOSED NOW WAS" "THAT I TAKE THIS ON BOARD ASMYPROPOSAL" "AND THEN PRESENT IT TO THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "I SAW DANGER EVEN IN A VISIT FROM SHULTZ." "I DECIDED TO SEND AN ENVOY TO AMERICA." ". I SENT OUR FORMER AMBASSADOR" "AND I TOLD SHULTZ VERY PLAINLY" "OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE" "WAS A SUBJECT OF DIVIDED OPINION IN ISRAEL" "MAINLY BETWEEN THE LIKUD AND THE LABOR PARTY" "AND THAT IF HE WERE TO COME TO ISRAEL" "TO PROVIDE HIS SUPPORT FOR THE AGREEMENT" "THAT PERES HAD ARRIVED AT" "HE WOULD BE ENTERING ISRAELI DOMESTIC POLITICS." "AND HE SAID, "I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE THE TRIP."" "Narrator:" "TRYING TO KEEP THE PROCESS GOING" ". PERES PERSUADED SHAMIR TO MEET WITH JORDAN'S KING HUSSEIN" "THE KING INVITED SHAMIR TO HIS HOUSE IN LONDON." "HAT HE COULD REPRESENT THE PALESTINI D T" "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "THE KING WAS VERY CRITICAL OF THE AMERICANS." "HE SAID, "THEY MADE PROMISES THEY DIDN'T HONOR." ""THEY PROMISED JORDAN WOULD GET BACK THE LAND" "ISRAEL HAD OCCUPIED, BUT THIS HASN'T HAPPENED."" "" I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, "I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT." "HE WAS VERY BLUNT." "THERE WAS NOT VERY MUCH ROOM FOR PUTTING ANY OF THE IDEAS" "OR HOPES OR ASPIRATIONS THAT I HAD IN MIND." "Translator:" "I REFUSED POINT BLANK TO DISCUSS AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE." "T SO THERE WASN'T MUCH THAT WE COULD REALLY SPEAK ABOU" "OR AGREE ABOUT." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "THE NEXT MORNING, I FLEW BACK TO JERUSALEM." "NONE OF MY COLLEAGUES KNEW WHERE I'D BEEN" "OR WHO I'D BEEN MEETING." "R WE GOT A REPORT FROM THAT MEETING FROM SHAMI" "WHO WAS VERY HAPPY ABOUT IT." "THE KING WAS SO COURTEOUS." "HE SERVED A KOSHER MEAL." "HE WAS..." "LISTENED TO ME, AND WE HAD..." "HE WAS WARM AND SO ON." "WE GOT A REPORT FROM KING HUSSEIN WHO SAID" ""WELL, WE HAD THE MEETING, IT WAS TERRIBLY DISCOURAGING" ""BECAUSE IT'S OBVIOUS TO M E THAT THE PRIME MINISTER" "IS NOT WILLING TO GIVE ANY GROUND AT ALL."" "Narrator:" "SHAMIR REJECTED HUSSEIN" "AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PALESTINIANS" "AND REPEATED HIS UNWILLINGNESS TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE P.L.O." "MEANWHILE, THE PALESTINIANS, SQUEEZED INTO THE GAZA STRIP" "FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS UNDER ISRAELI RULE" ". GREW INCREASINGLY FRUSTRATED" "ON DECEMBER 8, 1987, AN ISRAELI TRUCK ACCIDENTALLY HIT A CAR" "CARRYING FOUR PALESTINIAN LABORERS." "(horn honking)" "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE CAR WERE KILLED." "WE THOUGHT, "THIS WAS NO ACCIDENT." "IT WAS DONE ON PURPOSE BY THE ISRAELIS."" "." "Narrator:" "ANGRY CROWDS SOON GATHERED" "AN 18-YEAR-OLD PALESTINIAN" "THREW A STONE AT SOME ISRAELI SOLDIERS." "(gunshots)" "WHEN THEY FIRED BACK, THE BOY WAS KILLED." "(crowds yelling)" "THE ISRAELI SECURITY FORCE S THEN STEPPED UP THEIR PRESENCE" "IN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES." "A GROUP OF YOUNG ACTIVISTS SEIZED THE OPPORTUNITY" "TO PREPARE A LEAFLET CALLING FOR AN UPRISING." "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "EARLY IN THE MORNING, OUR LEAFLET WAS READY." "WE HAD CARS STANDING BY." ". WE ASKED CHILDREN AND PREGNANT WOMEN TO HELP" "THEY COULD SLIP PAST THE ISRAELIS AT THE CHECKPOINT." "Narrator:" "PALESTINIAN WORKERS WERE URGED TO GO ON STRIKE." "SHOPKEEPERS WERE TOLD TO SHUT THEIR BUSINESSES." "THE INTIFADA HAD BEGUN." "(men yelling, pottery shattering)" "STILL IN EXILE IN TUNIS" "LEARNED ABOUT THE INTIFADA FROM A NEWSCAST." "Arafat:" "IT IS THE RESISTANCE AND REVOLUTION" "OF ALL OUR CHILDREN, ALL OUR WOMEN" "ALL OUR PEOPMEN." "THIS IS THE ACCUMULATION OF THE REVOLUTION." "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "IN FACT, WE DIDN'T KNOW WHO ISSUED THE LEAFLETS." "WE WERE WORRIED." "WE WANTED TO KNOW WHO WAS BEHIND ALL THIS." "THE P.L.O. COULD PROVIDE LITTLE DAY-TO-DAY GUIDA" "TO THE INTIFADA ORGANIZERS ." "THE DEMONSTRATIONS, WHICH BEGAN IN GAZA" "NOW SPREAD TO EAST JERUSALEM AND THE WEST BANK." "NOW SPREAD TO EAST JERUSALEM AND THE WEST BANK.nsho ts, people yelling)" "THE PALESTINIAN FLAG, AN ILLEGAL SYMBOL UNDER ISRAELI RULE" "BEGAN TO APPEAR ALL OVER THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES." "(speaking Arabic)" "." "Translator:" "NOW EVEN THE BOURGEOISIE, EVERYONE JOINED THE INTIFADA" "THIS REALLY ENCOURAGED US." "Narrator:" "THE INTIFADA GOING" "I ONE YOUNG ACTIVIST SOUGHT GUIDANCE FROM FAISAL HUSSEIN" "THE HEAD OF ONE OF THE OLDES T PALESTINIAN FAMILIES." "HUSSEINI HAD SPENT THE LAST FEW YEARS" ". IN AND OUT OF ISRAELI JAIL S FOR HIS POLITICAL ACTIVITIES" "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "I TOLD HIM, "THE INTIFADA MUST NOT CHANGE TACTICS." ""DON'T USE WEAPONS OR GUNS ." ""DON'T GIVE THE ISRAELIS AN EXCUSE TO USE THEIR TECHNOLOGY." "WE WANT TO TIE DOWN AS MANY SOLDIERS AS WE CAN."" "Narrator:" "THE STRATEGY OF MINIMUM FORC E CAUGHT THE ISRAELIS OFF-GUARD." "Shamir:" "WE ARE FACING NOW A NEW FORM OF WARFARE AGAINST US." "IT MEANS THE ATTEMPT TO DESTROY OUR EXISTENCE" "BY VIOLENT DEMONSTRATIONS." "Narrator:" "THE ISRAELIS TRIED TO BREA K THE MORALE OF THE PROTESTERS" "WITH MASS ARRESTS." "THEY BLEW UP THE HOMES OF CONVICTED TERRORISTS." "IT IS NOT A NICE PICTURE TO WITNESS BLOWING A HOUSE ." "I FORCED MYSELF TO BE WITH THE SOLDIERS" "UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY FEEL AS I FEEL." "Narrator:" "WHEN THE ISRAELI CABINET MET" "MEMBERS OF THE COALITION ARGUED" "ABOUT HOW BEST TO END THE INTIFADA." "(man speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "ARIEL SHARON SPOKE UP." "IN ESSENCE HE SAID, "MR. PRIME MINISTER" ""WE MUST ORDER THE ARMY TO SUPPRESS THE INTIFADA." "THE ARMY WILL FIND A WAY."" "(man speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "SOME OF THE MINISTERS MADE HORRIFYING SUGGESTIONS." "THEY SUGGESTED, "SEND IN THE TANKS." ""KILL A THOUSAND AND IT WILL COLLAPSE." "ORDER WILL BE RESTORED TO ISRAEL."" "WE KNEW IF WE KILLED A THOUSAND IT WOULD GET WORSE" "AND WE WOULD BE BRANDED WAR CRIMINALS." "Narrator:" "THE CABINET REJECTED ALL OF THIS" "BUT TOLD THE DEFENSE MINISTER, YITZHAK RABIN" "TO FIND A WAY TO END THE INTIFADA." "Mitzna (translated):" "RABIN STOOD IN FRONT OF THE SOLDIERS AND SAID" ""GENTLEMEN, ST STAND THERE." ""USE YOUR HANDS, USE YOUR CLUBS." ""BEAT THE DEMONSTRATORS." "RESTORE ORDER."" "Narrator:" "TRYING TO RESTORE ORDER WITHOUT SHOOTING THE DEMONSTRATORS" "RABIN TOLD HIS SOLDI TO CLUB THEM INSTEAD." "SCENES LIKE THIS WERE BROADCAST AROUND THE WORLD." "Man:" "THEY ARE FACING THE PUNISHMENT OF THE ISRAELIS" "TILL NOW, IN ALL OVER THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES" "IN EVERY TOWN AND VILLAGE OR REFUGEE CAMP" "IN ALL THE DEMONSTRATIONS" "NO ONE HAD USED A GUN OR A HAND GRENADE." "Narrator:" "ABU JIHAD, THE P.L.O.'s MILITARY LEADER IN TUNIS" "HAD GAINED CONTROL OF THE INTIFADA." "HE P.L.O.'s TERRORIST OPERATIONS.D T" "A IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTIFAD" "S ABU JIHAD ORDERED AN ATTACK ON AN ISRAELI BU" "CARRYING PEOPLE HOME FROM WORK." "THREE WERE KILLED AND SIX WOUNDED." "." "Reporter:" "ALL WERE IN A STATE OF SHOCK" "Y THOSE WOMEN WHO HAD BEEN ON THE BUS AND HAD GOT AWA" "HAD NOT ESCAPED THE EMOTIONAL TRAUMA." "(woman screams)" "Narrator:" "A MONTH LATER" ". AN ELITE ISRAELI COMMANDO UNIT LANDED ON A BEACH IN TUNIS" "MOSSAD AGENTS GUIDED THE COMMANDOS" "TO THE HOME OF ABU JIHAD." "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "I WAS WOKEN BY THE SOUND OF PEOPLE BREAKING INTO THE HOUSE." "THEN I HEARD SCREAMS." "I WAS TERRIFIED." "I HEARD ABU JIHAD MOVING" "RUNNING FROM THE DESK TO THE CUPBOARD" "WHERE HE TOOK HIS PISTOL." "I SAW THREE MASKED MEN WITH MACHINE GUNS." "ONE OF THE MEN OPENED FIRE ON ABU JIHAD." "HIS ARM..." "HIM IN" "AND HIS HEART." "Translator:" "ABU JIHAD WAS A LEADER OF THE INTIFADA." "ALTHOUGH HE WAS OUT OF THE COUNTRY" ". HE WAS FIGHTING AGAINST US" "HE WAS ONE OF THEIR MOST POPULAR COMMANDERS." "HE FELL JUST LIKE MANY OTHERS-- LIKE PEOPLE ON OUR SIDE." "or:" "HE FELL BUT IN THE INTENSITYS-- LIKEOF THE CONFLICTSIDE.at" ". BOTH SIDES WERE LEARNING SOMETHING ABOUT EACH OTHER" "Translator:" "FOR THE 40th ANNIVERSARY OF ISRAEL" "WE HAD A HUGE MILITARY PARADE." "A FEW DAYS LATER, I WAS IN THE WEST BANK." "THEY KNEW ME FROM TV..." "AND ONE OF THEM SAID" ""YESTERDAY, I SAW ALL YOUR FIGHTER AIRCRAFT." ""YOU'RE SO STRONG UP THERE" "BUT WHAT CAN YOU DO AGAINS T STONE-THROWERS DOWN HERE?"" ". THIS WAS OUR PROBLEM AND THE YOUNG PEOPLE'S POWER" "YOU KNOW THAT IF YOU BEAT THEM AND SHOOT THEM" "AND DO WHATEVER YOU WANT TO THEM, THEY WON'T STOP." "WE TRAIN TO FIGHT AGAINST OTHER SOLDIERS." "NOW WE FIGHT AGAINST PEOPLE." "IT'S DIFFICULT." "Narrator:" "INCREASINGLY, ISRAELIS ASKED THEMSELVES" "S WHETHER THEY COULD RULE MORE THAN A MILLION PALESTINIAN" "IN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES FOREVER." "Soldier 1:" "WE CAN'T SOLVE THIS PROBLEM." "IT'S THE GOVERNMENT" "IT'S THE POLITICIAN HAVE TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, NOT WE ARE." "Narrator:" "E INTIFADA VENTED PALESTINIAN FRUSTRATION" "BUT IT ALSO DEMONSTRATED" "THAT NEITHER TERRORISM NOR STREET REVOLT WOULD SOLVE" "THEIR POLITICAL PROBLEMS." "IN TUNISONE P.L.O. LEADER DISCUSSED WHAT TO DO NEXT" "WITH A COLLEAGUE." "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "WE SAT THERE ALONE." "I SAID, "I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING" ". "I'VE NEVER MENTIONED BEFORE" "" CAN I RAISE A TABOO SUBJECT?" "HE SAID, "BE MY GUEST."" "Narrator:" "THE P.L.O. HAD BEEN CREATE D TO RECLA OF ISRAEL" "FOR THE PALESTINIANS." "D THAT THEY BE REALISTIC" "THAT THE ONLY WAY TO GET BAC K GAZA AND THE WEST BANK" "WAS TO ACCEPT WHAT THEY REJECTED 40 YEARS AGO" "THE PARTITION OF PALESTINE." "Translator:" "I ASKED HIM, "SHOULD WE CONSIDER RECOGNIZING ISRAEL?"" "HE SAID YES." "Narrator:" "YASSER ARAFAT WAS EVENTUALLY CONVINCED" "THAT THE P.L.O. WOULD HAVE TO COMPROMISE." "BUT THE OTHER P.L.O. LEADERS WERE HARDER TO PERSUADE." "LIKE SADAT, THE P.L.O. PREFERRED TO NEGOTIATE" "THROUGH THE AMERICANS." "BUT THE AMERICANS LAID DOWN A CONDITION:" "YASSER ARAFAT, THE WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS GUERRILLA LEADER" "WOULD HAVE TO ROUNCE TERRORISM." "HE'S GOT TO GET UP IN FRONT OF A TELEVISION CAMERA" "IN SOME PUBLIC WAY AND SAY FOR INEVERYBODY TO SEE HIM SAYING IT" "OUT OF HIS OWN MOUTH THESE THINGS." "Narrator:" "THE U.N. GENERAL ASSEMBLY GATHERED IN GENEVA" "FOR A SPECIAL SESSION TO HEAR ARAFAT." "BUT NOT ALL THE FACTIONS OF THE P.L.O." "WERE WILLING TO NEGOTIATE." "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "WE DID NOT ACCEPT THE DECISION TO RECOGNIZE ISRAEL." "WE WOULD ACCEPT NO FURTHER COMPROMISE." "Narrator:" "ARAFAT'S U.N. SPEECH WOULD B E A DIFFICULT BALANCING ACT." "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "I HEREBY ONCE MORE DECLARE" "." "Narrator:" "THAT WAS FOR THE AMERICANS" "H AND IN A PATTERN THAT WAS TO CHARACTERIZE THE WHOLE SPEEC" "THE NEXT PHRASE WAS FOR THE P.L.O. RADICALS." "E Translator:" "AND AT THE SAME TIME SALUT" "THOSE SITTING BEFORE ME IN THIS HALL" "WHO IN THE DAYS WHEN THEY FOUGHT TO FREE THEIR COUNTRIES" "FROM THE YOKE OF COLONIALISM , WERE ACCUSED OF TERRORISM." "(applause)" "Narrator:" "HE CONCLUDED HIS SPEECH" "CONVINCED HE HAD PLEASED EVERYONE." "I REVIEWED IT WITH PRESIDENT REAGAN" "WHO WAS FOLLOWING THIS CLOSELY" "AND I SAID, "WELL, MR. PRESIDENT" ""IN ONE PART OF HIS STATEMEN T HE SAID 'UNC, UNC, UNC'" ""AND THE OTHER PART OF HIS STATEMENT" ""HE SAID 'CLE, CLE, CLE,' BUT NOWHERE DID HE SAY 'UNCLE'" "SO, NO, IT'S NOT SATISFACTORY."" "Narrator:" "WORD SOON CAME" "THAT THE AMERICANS HAD REJECTED THE BALANCING ACT." "ARAFAT'S CLOSEST ADVISERS IMPLORED HIM" "TO SAY EXACTLY WHAT SHULTZ DEMANDED." "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "I SAW THAT ARAFAT HAD A DILEMMA:" "WHETHER TO SAY IT OR NOT." "SHOULD HE SIT TIGHT OR SHOULD HE TRY AGAIN?" "Narrator:" "THE NEXT MORNING, ARAFAT CALLED A PRESS CONFERENCE." "Arafat:" "I REPEAT" "FOR THE RECORD THAT WE TOTALLY AND ABSOLUTELY RENOUNCE" "ALL FORMS OF TERRORISM." "Shultz:" "I VIEW THIS DEVELOPMENT AS ONE MORE STEP" "TOWARD THE BEGINNING" "OF DIRECT NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE PARTIES" "WHICH ALONE CAN LEAD TO S" "Narrator:" "BUT ISRAEL'S PRIME MINISTE R WAS UNIMPRESSED." "Translator:" "SHAMIR MADE A G" "IT MEANT, "THIS ISN'T IMPORTANT." "LET'S NOT WASTE TIME ANALYZING WHAT ARAFAT SAID."" "WE CANNOT TRUST." "THEY ARE CRIMINALS, THEY ARE LIARS" "THEY ARE ENEMIES OF OUR PEOPLE." "(applause)" "." "Narrator:" "SHAMIR'S VIEW OF ARAFAT WA S REINFORCED 18 MONTHS LATER" "ON AUGUST 2, 1990" "IRAQ'S SADDAM HUSSEIN SENT HIS ARMY INTO KUWAIT." "HE BOASTED THAT IN A WAR, ISRAEL WOULD END UP IN FLAMES." "SADDAM'S ONLY SUPPORT CAME" "FROM LIBYA, SUDAN AND THE P.L.O." "Arafat:" "YOU KNOW THE WAR WILL NOT BE ONLY IN BAGHDAD." "THIS WAR, IF IT STARTED, WILL BE IN THE WHOLE AREA." "FOR THIS IT WILL B?" "A REAL CATASTROPHE." "Narrator:" "ISRAEL PREPARED FOR AN ATTACK." "AS PRESIDENT BUSH SET OUT TO BUILD A COALITION" "T TO FORCE SADDAM OUT OF KUWAI" ". HE TRAVELED TO DAMASCUS TO BRING SYRIA INTO THE FOLD" "(crowd chanting)" "BUT PRESIDENT ASSAD, A FIRM ARAB NATIONALIST" "WAS NOT EASY TO CONVINCE." "PRESIDENT ASSAD MADE VERY CLEAR TO ME" "THAT HE BLAMED ISRAEL FOR EVERYTHING." "I'M NOT SURE HE BLAMED THE M FOR IRAQ GOING INTO KUWAIT" "BUT HE GOT ALMOST EVERYTHING-- EVERYTHING WAS ALL ABOUT ISRAEL." "I MADE CLEAR TO HIM BUT HE GOT ALMOST EVERYTHING-- EVERYTHING WAS ALL ABOUT ISRAEL." "THAT WE DIDN'T WANT TO LINK ANY MIDDLE" ". TO WHIPPING SADDAM HUSSEIN" "BUT I MADE CLEAR TO HIM ALSO" "THAT WE WOULD BE INVOLVED IN TRYING TO BE A CATALYST" "FOR PEACE FOR ARABS AND ISRAELIS." "Narrator:" "AS THE WAR STARTED" ". SADDAM ORDERED AN ATTACK ON ISRAEL WITH SCUD MISSILES" "SADDAM HOPED THAT BY ATTACKING ISRAEL" "HE WOULD GET THE SUPPORT OF OTHER ARAB COUNTRIES." "IF ISRAEL RETALIATED" "HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO UNDERMIN E THE COALITION AGAINST HIM." "IRAQ'S MISSILES WERE AIMED INDISCRIMINATELY" ". AT ISRAEL'S LARGEST CITIES" ". THE REPEATED ATTACKS OVER MANY NIGHTS WERE NERVE-WRACKING" "THE ISRAELI PRESS REPORTED THAT PALESTINIANS CELEBRATED" "AS THE MISSILES FLEW OVER THE WEST BANK" "ON THE WAY TO TEL AVIV." "CHEMICAL TRACES IN ONE OF T RAISED" "THE POSSIBILITY OF A DEADLY CHEMICAL ATTACK." "WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT THREAT REMOVED" "AND WE WILL TAKE THE PROTECTIONS THAT ARE NECESSARY TO REMOVE IT." "I CANNOT TELL YOU WHEN, I CANNOT TELL YOU WHERE." "Narrator:" "IN THE END, ISRAEL DID NOT RETALIATE" "D BUT ITS LEADERS HAD LEARNE" "A HARD LESSON ABOUT THEIR VULNERABILITY." "SHAMIR WAS ALSO ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED" "THAT GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY" "ISRAEL'S ARAB ENEMIES WOULD TRY TO DESTROY IT." "WHEN THE WAR WITH IRAQ ENDED" "PRESIDENT BUSH LOOKED TOWARDS THE FUTURE." "Man:" "MR. SPEAKER, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!" "(rhythmic clapping)" "WE MUST DO ALL THAT WE CAN" "TO CLOSE THE GAP BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE ARAB STATES" "AND BETWEEN ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS." "THERE CAN BE NO SUBSTITUTE FOR DIPLOMACY." "THE TIME HAS COME TO PUT AN END TO ARAB-ISRAELI CONFLICT." "SENDING THE SECRETARY OF THE STATE" "AT THE HEIGHT OF HIS PRESTIGE, TO THE MIDDLE EAST." "AND WHAT WE BASICALLY HOPE D" "WAS THAT NO ONE WOULD HAVE THE NERVE" "TO SAY NO TO THE UNITED STATES AT THAT MOMENT." "Narrator:" "BUSH INSTRUCTED SECRETARY OF STATE JAMES BAKER" "TO PERSUADE THE ARABS AND ISRAELIS" "TO ATTEND A NEW PEACE CONFERENCE." "Baker:" "WELL THE WHOLE IDEA" "THAT WE CAME UP WITH" "WAS TO GIVE THE ARABS WHAT THEY NEEDED" "AND GIVE THE ISRAELIS WHAT THEY NEEDED." "Narrator:" "THE BONE OF CONTENTION BETWEEN ISRAEL AND SYRIA" "S WAS STILL THE GOLAN HEIGHT" "CAPTURED BY ISRAEL 20 YEARS EARLIER." "IN DAMASCUS, BAKER SUGGESTED TO PRESIDENT ASSAD" "THAT IF HE CAME TO THE CONFERENCE" "ISRAEL MIGHT NEGOTIATE" "A WITHDRAWAL FROM THE GOLAN HEIGHTS." "WE ARE NOT NEGOTIATING" "WHETHER THE GOLAN WOULD COME BACK OR NOT" "WHETHER A PART OF IT" "WOULD STAY UNDER THE ISRAELI CONTROL OR NOT ." "THE WHOLE OF THE SYRIAN GOLA N SHOULD COME BACK TO SYRIA." "Narrator:" "HAVING GOTTEN NOWHERE WITH THE SYRIANS" "BAKER THEN TRIED TO TEMPT YITZHAK SHAMIR" "TO THE PEACE CONFERENCE." "Baker:" "I REMEMBER SAYING" "IT'S GOING TO BE ONE BIG MEETING" "THAT IS GOING TO LEAD, THEN, TO BILATERAL NEGOTIATIONS" "SO THAT THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT COULD SAY" "" "WELL, THIS IS REALLY NOT AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "I WOULDN'T EVEN CONSIDER IT." "IT MEANT NEGOTIATING WITH P.L.O. TERRORISTS." "Narrator:" "BAKER PROMISED SHAMIR" ". HE WOULD NOT INVITE THE P.L.O. TO THE CONFERENCE" "BAKER THEN WENT TO MEET" "PALESTINIAN LEADERS FROM THE WEST BANK AND GAZA." "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "WE IN THE P.L.O. LEADERSHI P OPPOSED THEM MEETING BAKER ." "FOR US, THIS MEETING WAS POINTLESS ." "WE THOUGHT IT WOULD NOT ADVANCE THE PALESTINIAN CAUSE." "Translator:" "SOME COMRADES ARGUED THAT" "THE AMERICANS WANTED TO CREATE AN ALTERNATIVE LEADERSHIP" "TO REPLACE THE P.L.O." "P Narrator:" "FOR FIVE NIGHTS, ABU MAZEN URGED THE P.L.O. LEADERSHI" "S TO LET PALESTINIANS FROM THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIE" "MEET WITH BAKER." "FINALLY, YASSER ARAFAT DECIDED HE HAD NOTHING TO LOSE." "ONLY IT IS A MEETING... (asks question in Arabic)" "Man:" "EXPLORATORY?" "EXPLORATORY MEETING," "IF THINGS WOULD PROCEED POSITIVELY" "THEN THE LEADERSHIP WOULD TAKE THE CREDIT." "IF THINGS DID NOT WORK OUT" "THEN WE AS INDIVIDUALS WOULD TAKE THE BLAME." "Narrator:" "WHEN THE PALESTINIANS MET BAKER IN JERUSALEM" "THE P.L.O. INSISTED THAT EACH PALESTINIAN DELEGATE" "BE APPROVED IN WRITING BY ARAFAT." "I SAID TO HIM" ""MR. SECRETARY, THIS MEETING COULD NOT HAVE TAKEN PLACE" ""WITHOUT THE AUTHORIZATION OF PRESIDENT ARAFAT PERSONALLY."" "AND I TOOK THE LETTER OUT OF MY POCKET, SHOWED IT TO HIM." "I REMINDED THEM THAT THE P.L.O." "THEIR ORGANIZATION AND THEIR CHAIRMAN" "HAD MADE A SERIOUS MISTAKE" "IN BACKING SADDAM HUSSEIN" "(eaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "HE SAT LIKE THIS." "I PULLED MY CHAIR ROUND AND FACED HIM." ". WE CONFRONTED EACH OTHER JUST LIKE TWO FIGHTING COCKS" "HE WAS SO ANGRY AND, UH... ?" "SAID, "WE FEEL IF WE MAKE YOU ANGRY, WHAT CAN YOU DO" ""WE DON'T HAVE ASSETS IN BAN K TO BE FROZEN BY YOU." ""WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING IN THE WORLD" ""THAT YOU CAN THREATEN US WITH." ""SO COURT US, AND WE'RE WILLING TO PLAY POSITIVELY" "BUT AS A MAJOR PLAYER."" "Narrator:" "THE PALESTINIANS REFUSED TO REPUDIATE THE P.L.O." "AND BAKER KNEW THIS WOULD BE UNACCEPTABLE TO SHAMIR." ". AFTER 12 WEEKS OF SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY, BAKER WAS STUCK" "THE ONLY LEVERAGE A SECRETARY OF STATE HAS" "IN THIS KIND OF SITUATION" "IS THE ABILITY TO BLAME ONE PARTY OR THE OTHER" "FOR THE COLLAPSE OF THESS." "Al-Shar'a:" "BAKER CAME AND TOLD PRESIDENT ASSAD" "IT IS" " YOUR POSITION IS VERY IMPORTANT." "I MEAN, IF YOU ACCEPT" "IF YOU FEEL THAT THIS IS GOOD FOR YOU" "AND YOU ACCEPT THE AMERICAN INITIATIVE" "TH THE WHOLE WORLD WILL STAND BY SYRIA" "AND WILL PUT THE BLAME ON ISRAEL." "Narrator:" "ASSAD DECIDED TO GO ALONG." "AND I AM PLEASED TO REPORT" "THAT SYRIA HAS AGREED TO THE PROPOSALS THAT WE HAVE MADE" "INCLUDING COMING TO A PEACE CONFERENCE." "Narrator:" "FULL OF CONFIDENCE, BAKER RETURNED TO ISRAEL." "Haass:" "THERE WAS NO WAY" "THAT AN ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER" "COULD APPEAR TO BE LESS INTERESTED IN PEACE" "THAN A SYRIAN PRESIDENT" "ESPECIALLY WHEN THE SYRIAN PRESIDENT" "ACCEPTED COMING TO THIS CONFERENCE" "MS THAT WERE ESSENTIALLY DEFINED BY ISRAEL." "Narrator:" "BUT SHAMIR PUT MORE OBSTACLE S IN BAKER'S PATH." "EVERY TIME THE AMERICAN TEAM ARRIVED IN THE MIDDLE EAST" "ISRAEL ANNOUNCED THE CONSTRUCTION" " OF A NEW JEWISH SETTLEMENT IN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES" "LAND THE ARABS CLAIMED WAS THEIRS." "HOME" "MADE ISRAELI WITHDRAWAL MORE DIFFICULT." ". FURIOUS, BAKER WENT PUBLIC" "IT IS EASIER TO OBSTRUCT PEACE THAN IT IS TO PROMOTE IT." "AND THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT , UH..." "OF THESE SETTLEMENTS" "CERTAINLY DOES NOT HELP THE EFFORTS OF THOSE OF US" "O ARE INTERESTED IN PEACE." "CERTAINLY DOES NOT HELP THE EFFORTS OF THOSE OF US" "Narrator:" "THE PALESTINIAN REACTION WAS PREDICTABLE." "I REMEMBER FAISAL HUSSEINI" ". AT ALMOST EVERY MEETING, HE WOULD PULL OUT THIS MAP" "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "I BROUGHT HIM MAPS OF THE WEST BANK AND GAZA." "THE FIRST MAP SHOWED THE SITUATION BEFORE 1967." "THE SECOND ONE SHOWED THE SITUATION TODAY" "WITH THE SETTLEMENTS ALL MARKED IN ORANGE." "Baker:" "AND, UH..." "I FINALLY SAID, "FAISAL, LET'S GET..." ""LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT HERE." ""LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW WE'R GOING TO GET A NEGOTIATION GOING" ""BECAUSE IF WE DON'T, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP MEETING LIKE THIS" ""AND PRETTY SOON YOU'RE GOING TO BRING ME A MAP" "THAT'S TOTALLY ORANGE."" "HE ACTUALLY TOLD US, YOU HAVE NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE." "HE SAID, "NAME ANY WAY IN WHICH YOU CAN STOP SETTLEMENTS" "OTHER THAN THROUGH THE PEACE PROCESS."" "Narrator:" "THE LOCAL PALESTINIANS WER E AFRAID TO TALK TO ISRAELIS" "WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THE P.L.O. IN TUNIS." "A MEETING OF THE PALESTINE NATIONAL COUNCIL W" "eaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "OUR DELEGATION ASKED BAKER , COULD THE REFUGEES RETURN?" "HE SAID NO." "WILL THERE BE A PALESTINIAN STATE?" "HE SAID NO." "?" "WILL THE P.L.O. BE ON THE DELEGATION TO SPEAK FOR US" "HE SAID NO." ". CHAIRMAN ARAFAT KNOWS THAT THESE ANSWERS ARE ACCURATE" "THEY ARE "NO," "NO," AND "NO."" "(Husseini speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "I TOLD THE CONFERENCE" "IF WE DON'T GET ON THE PEACE TRAIN" "IT WILL PASS THROUGH OUR STATION." "WE WILL NEVER HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE." "I SAID, "WE DON'T WANT TO BE PASSIVE VICTIMS OF HISTORY." ""WE WANT TO CHALLENGE, TO INTERVENE, TO INTRUDE" ""TO PARTICIPATE AND TO PRESENT OUR OWN NARRATIVE" "TOOR OURSELVES, AND THIS IS A FORUM."" "Narrator:" "IT WAS A FORUM ARAFAT HIMSEL F HAD WANTED TOATTEND." "RELUCTANTLY HE AGREED" "THAT THE TEAM FROM THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES" "NOT THE P.L.O." " WOULD REPRESENT THE PALESTINIANS." "(man speaking Arabic over P.A. system)" "BUT SHAMIR HAD ANOTHER DEMAND." "HE ASKED THE AMERICANS" "TO GUARANTEE A LOAN OF TEN BILLION DOLLARS" "TO HELP ABSORB THE SOVIET IMMIGRANTS" "WHO WERE NOW POURING INTO ISRAEL." "I DON'T WANT TO INTERFERE IN THE AMERICAN INTERIOR AFFAIR" "BUT I WOULD LIKE, UH..." "TO INFORM EVERYBODY" "THAT NOT TO FORGET THAT THEY ARE USING THESE BILLIONS, UH..." "IN BUILDING MORE ILLEGAL SETTLEMENTS ON OUR LAND." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "THIS WAS OUR WAY TO BUILD UP OUR COUNTRY." "WHAT IS THEEAL?" "IT IS TO GATHER THE JEWISH PEOPLE INTO THIS SMALL COUNTRY." "SO WE MUST SET UP MORE AND MORE HOMES" "LARGE AND SMALL COMMUNITIES." "WHAT ARE THE SETTLEMENTS?" "THEY ARE JUST COMMUNITIES." "NO ARABS LIVED ON THAT LAND." "IT IS NOT ON THEIR PROPERTY." "Narrator:" "THE AMERICANS WERE UNABLE TO STOP THE ISRAELIS" "FROM BUILDING SETTLEMENTS." "TO SAVE THE CONFERENCE, PRESIDENT BUSH DELAYED THE LOAN." "AMERICAN JEWISH LEADERS URGED HIM TO RECONSIDER." "I WAS APPROACHED BY THE LEADERS" "OF SOME OF THE BIGGEST JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS." "A REPUBLICAN WAS HEAD OF AIPAC" "WHICH IS A VERY STRONG AMERICAN/ISRAEL" "POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE" ". AND HE TOLD ME THAT I WAS MAKING A HUGE MISTAKE POLITICALLY" "Narrator:" "PRESIDENT BUSH WOULDN'T GIVE IN." "FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY THE VISION OF ISRAELIS Narrator:" "PRESIDENT BUSH WOULDN'T GIVE IN." "SITTING WITH THEIR ARAB NEIGHBORS TO TALK PEACE" "IS A REAL PROSPECT." "NOTHING SHOULD BE DONE" "THAT MIGHT INTERFERE WITH THIS PROSPECT" "AND IF NECESSARY I WILL USE MY VETO POWER." "Translator:" "WE SAW THE PRESIDENT ON TELEVISION." "HE TOOK A STAND AGAINST THE AMERICAN JEWS." "I GOT REALLY ANGRY." "THIS HURT ME JUST AS IT HURT MANY OTHERS." "." "Narrator:" "BUSH HAD FACED DOWN SHAMIR" "(sirens blaring)" "S A FEW WEEKS LATER, ISRAELIS, ARABS, AMERICANS AND RUSSIAN" "ASSEMBLED IN MADRID." "FOR THE FIRST TIME, PALESTINIANS WERE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE." "(light applause)" "TODAY WE HAVE MADE A MAJOR STEP FORWARD." "THERE IS A RECOGNITION OF THE PALESTINIAN NATIONAL IDENTITY." "THE PALESTINIANS ARE SPEAKIN G OUT FOR THEMSELVES" "FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY." "." "Narrator:" "THE DELEGATES GATHERED AT THE ROYAL PALACE" "I WILL NEVER FORGET THE EMOTION I FELT" "WHEN, WITH GORBACHEV NEXT TO ME" "WE WALKED INTO THIS ROOM IN MADRID" "AND THERE ACROSS THE TABLE SAT ARABS AND ISRAELIS." "WE COME TO MADRID ON A MISSION OF HOPE." "N Narrator:" "EVERYONE EXPECTED EACH MIDDLE EAST DELEGATIO" "TO BE LED BY ITS FOREIGN MINISTER." ". BUT SHAMIR HAD A BETTER IDEA" "Translator:" "I THOUGHT, "MAYBE I SHOULD G O TO MADRID MYSELF."" "Narrator:" "SHAMIR HAD DEVOTED HIS LIF E TO FIGHTING FOR ISRAEL" "DOING WHATEVER HE THOUGHT NECESSARY" "TO ESTABLISH, MAINTAIN AND DEFEND THE STATE." "R AS HE GOT UP TO SPEAK, THE CONFERENCE WAITED TO HEA" "IF HE WAS NOW READY TO MAKE PEACE." "I COULD GO ON AND RECITE" "A LITANY OF FACTS THAT DEMONSTRATE THE EXTENT" "TO WHICH SYRIA MERITS THE DUBIOUS HONOR" "OF BEING ONE OF THE MOST OPPRESSIVE, TYRANNICAL REGIMES" "IN THE WORLD" ". BUT THIS IS NOT WHAT WE HAVE COME HERE FOR" "HE ATTACKED SYRIA BITTERLY" "AND ACCUSED SYRIA OF BEING ON THE LIST OF TERRORISM" "AND I WAS VERY ANGRY." "I LOOKED OVER AND I SAW FAROUK SHAR'A'S FACE." "HE JUST FROZE" "AND HE CALLED ONE OF HIS AIDES OVER." "SO IMMEDIATELY HIS FACE CHANGED AND HE SMILED." "HE SAID, "OKAY, GO BACK, I WILL WRITE MY SPEECH."" "I TOLD HIM, "MR. MINISTER, IT'S 15 MINUTES LEFT." "YESTERDAY WE SPENT SEVEN HOURS TO PREPARE YOUR SPEECH."" "HE SAID, "DON'T WORRY, I WILL WRITE HEADLINES."" "SO I LAY ASIDE MY PREPARED SPEECH AND SAID OPENLY" ""HE IS THE LAST ONE TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK ABOUT TERRORISM" "BECAUSE HE HIMSELF WAS A WANTED TERRORIST."" "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "I SHALL JUST SHOW YOU IF I MAY A PHOTOGRAPH" "AN OLD PHOTOGRAPH OF MR. SHAMIR." "WHY WAS THIS PICTURE DISTRIBUTED?" "IT WAS DISTRIBUTED BECAUSE HE WAS WANTED." "HE HELPED IN THE ASSASSINATION OF COUNT BERNADOTTE" "THE U.N. MEDIATOR IN PALESTINE, AS I RECALL, IN 1948." "HE KILLS PEACE MEDIATORS." "I REMEMBER THE FACES OF THE ISRAELI DELEGATION." "THEY WERE COLORLESS." "Narrator:" "ONE PALESTINIAN DELEGATE THEN TRIED TO DEMONSTRATE" "THAT NO MATTER WHAT SHAMIR THOUGHT" "HE WAS REALLY NEGOTIATING WITH THE P.L.O." "SO I SAID, THE ONLY THING THAT SYMBOLIZES PALESTINIANS" "IS THE BLACK-AND-WHITE KEFFIYEH" "WHICH PRESIDENT ARAFAT WEARS ALL THE TIME" "SO I DECIDED TO PUT IT ON MY SHOULDERS." "AND THE ANGLE E" "DIRECTLY LOOKING SHAMIR ON THE EYE." "IT WAS ENGINEERED BY GOD." "IT WAS JUST PERFECT." "AND I LOOKED AT HIM AND I SAID TO HIM" ". I NODDED MY HEAD, I SAID.." "HE SHOOK HIS HEAD LIKE THIS." "I SMILED." "REALLY HE MOVED HIS HEAD THIS WAY." "SO I WINKED TO HIM" "AND HE JUST DO THIS." "AND THEN AFTER THE SESSION WAS OVER" ". EVERYONE IS SURROUNDING ME" "SO I SAID, "WHY THE SENSITIVITIES?" "WE ARE THE KEY TO PEACE" "TO YOUR PEACE PROCESS-- AS PALESTINIANS" "AND YOU MUST REALIZE THE NEW FACTS OF LIFE." "Narrator:" "AMID MUTUAL RECRIMINATIONS , THE CONFERENCE BROKE" ". INTO ONE-TO-ONE TALKS BETWEE N ISRAEL AND THE ARAB STATES" "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "WE AND THE SYRIANS MOVED TO OPPOSITE SIDES" "OF THIS BIG TABLE." "WE SAT FROZEN LIKE ROBOTS." "THE AMERICANS AND RUSSIANS GOT OUT AS QUICKLY AS THEY COULD." "THEY WERE GLAD TO ESCAPE." "IT WAS DIFFICULT HALF AN HOUR." "FOR ME, FOR EXAMPLE, THIS WILL BE THE FIRST TIME I SIT" "FACE-TO-FACE WITH THE ISRAELIS." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "THE SYRIANS WANTED US TO COMMIT" "TO A WITHDRAWAL FROM THE GOLAN HEIGHTS." "WE DIDN'T WANT TO GET INTO ALL THAT." "THE WITHDRAWAL SHOULD NOT BE A QUESTION FOR NEGOTIATION." "THE WITHDRAWAL IS" " EITHER THERE WILL BE A WITHDRAWAL" "FULL WITHDRAWAL, OR THERE WILL BE NO PEACE." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "THE MOMENT WE WOULD HAVE SAI D THAT WE WERE READY TO WITHDRAW" "THIS MIGHT HAVE ENDED THE WHOLE THING" "AND THE SYRIANS WOULD HAVE AVOIDED" "THE MAIN QUESTION FOR US." " THAT WAS THE CHARACTER OF PEACE, THE END OF TERRORISM" "S THE TERRORIST ORGANIZATION" "WITH THEIR HEADQUARTERS IN DAMASCUS." "AND WHAT ABOUT HEZBOLLAH AND LEBANON UNDER SYRIAN OCCUPATION?" "ALL THESE TOPICS WERE RAISED" "AND EVERY TIME WE TRIED TO BREAK THIS DOGMA OF THE SYRIANS." "Reporter:" "WHEN THEY FINISHED" "THE ISRAELI'S RETURNED TO THEIR HOTEL" "TELLING THE WAITING PRESS" "THAT ALL THEIR SUGGESTIONS TO TRY TO BUILD TRUST" "HAD BEEN FLATLY REJECTED." "THERE HAD BEEN NO HANDSHAKES, NO SMILES, LITTLE PERSONAL CONTACT." "I DON'T WANT TO SAY THAT THE Y WERE A COMPLETE FAILURE" "G BECAUSE THE VERY FACT THAT WE WERE SITTING AND TALKIN" "IS IN ITSELF ALREADY AN ACHIEVEMENT" "BUT THE SUBSTANCE WAS, AS I SAID, FUTILE." ". BBC reporter:" "THE SYRIANS, TOO, WERE UNIMPRESSED BY THEIR MEETING" "I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR REGRET" "FOR LEAVING..." "THIS CITY, MADRID" "WITHOUT HAVING TANGIBLE RESULTS FROM THE BILATERAL TALKS" "THAT OUR DELEGATION HELD YESTERDAY" "WITH THE ISRAELI DELEGATION." "BBC reporter:" "ISRAELI TALKS WITH THE PALESTINIAN" "AND JORDANIAN DELEGATION WERE SO POSITIVE" "THAT THEY COULD BE CROWNED WITH PUBLIC HANDSHAKES AFTERWARDS" "BOTH SIDES HERE, AT LEAST, CONFIDENT OF MEETING AGAIN SOON." "(reporters all talking at once)" "T Narrator:" "AMERICA HAD FINALLY BROUGH" "THE WARRING PARTIES TO THE CONFERENCE TABLE." "BUT IT WOULD TAKE ANOTHER BREAKTHROUGH" "TO CONVERT FIGHTERS INTO PEACEMAKERS." "(people singing and clapping)" "Narrator:" "YITZHAK RABIN'S STUNNING ELECTION VICTORY" "BROUGHT THE LABOR PARTY BACK INTO POWER." ". RABIN HAD PROMISED TO ACCELERATE PEACE TALKS WITH THE ARABS" "I BELIEVE THAT AGREEMENT WILL BE REACHED" "WITHIN LESS THAN ONE YEAR." "YOU CAN SAY NINE MONTHS, LESS OR BETWEEN NINE AND 12." "Narrator:" "ISRAEL'S OLD ENEMY," "STILL CLAIMED TO LEAD THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE." "D BUT EXILED IN TUNIS AND CUT OFF FROM HIS HOMELAN" "ARAFAT WAS MORE WILLING TO COMPROMISE" "WITH THE ISRAELIS." ". A P.L.O. REPRESENTATIVE FROM TUNIS WAS ON ASSIGNMENT" "(man speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "I HAD NEVER MET AN ISRAELI BEFORE..." "NOT ONE." "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "ALL THE WAY TO THE MEETING" "I WAS LOOKING LEFT AND RIGHT AND BEHIND ME." "I WAS AFRAID OF BEING SEEN ." "Narrator:" "THE ISRAELI WHO INITIATED THE MEETING" "WAS WAITING FOR HIM." "HE WAS AN ACADEMIC" "WITH UNOFFICIAL CONNECTIONS TO ISRAEL'S NEW LABOR GOVERNMENT." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "IT WAS A MOMENT OF TRUTH." "MEETING A P.L.O. MAN WAS AGAINST THE LAW." "Narrator:" "THE ISRAELI'S COVER FOR MEETING A MEMBER OF THE P.L.O." "WAS PROVIDED BY A FELLOW SOCIAL SCIENTIST FROM" "Man:" "I SIMPLY SUGGESTED" "THAT HIRSCHFELD AND MYSELF HAD BREAKFAST" "AND THEN THAT WHEN ABU ALA ARRIVED IN THE LOBBY" "I SHOULD SIMPLY, DISCREETL Y SLIP AWAY FROM THE TABLE" "AND ABU ALA SHOULD TAKE MY PLACE." "Translator:" "WE SPOKE ABOUT THE CONFLICT, WHICH HAD NO END IN SIGHT." "IT HAD BEEN RAGING FOR THE WHOLE CENTURY" "SO HOW COULDWEEND IT?" "Narrator:" "P.L.O. HEADQUARTERS IN TUNIS AWAITED HIS REPORT." "(Mazen speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "ABU ALA TOLD US WHAT HAD HAPPENED." "I SAID, "IF THEY ASK YOU TO GO AGAIN, GO."" "HE ASKED, "WHAT'S THE POINT OF TALKING TO THESE PEOPLE?"" "I SAID, "WELL, THERE MUST BE SOMETHING BEHIND IT."" "Narrator:" "AT THE SAME TIME, OFFICIAL PEACE NEGOTIATIONS BEGUN IN MADRID" "CONTINUED IN WASHINGTON" "WHERE A DELEGATION OF WEST-BANK PALESTINIANS" "WERE GETTING NOWHERE." "BYPASSING THE DELEGATION TO TALK DIRECTLY TO THE P.L.O." "WAS THOUGHT BY SOME ISRAELIS" "AS A BETTER WAY AROUND THE IMPASSE." ". BUT EVEN THE P.L.O. DID NO T SPEAK FOR ALL PALESTINIANS" "(people chanting)" "(man shouting over loudspeaker)" "(yelling a chant)" "(people repeating chant)" "(yelling)" "Narrator:" "THE FUNDAMENTALIST GROUP HAMAS HAD JUST KIDNAPPED" "AN ISRAELI POLICE OFFICER AND MURDERED HIM." "WE HAVE TO TAKE A MEASURE" "THAT WILL SPEAK NOT BY WORDS, BUT BY DEEDS ." "Narrator:" "RABIN ORDERED ISRAELI SECURITY FORCES" "TO ROUND UP AND DEPORT 415 HAMAS ACTIVISTS." "THE EXPULSION FROM THE WEST BANK CREATED A CRISIS IN WASHINGTON." "IF THEY DO DEPORT THE PALESTINIANS THIS MORNING" "THEN I DON'T THINK THE ISRAELI DELEGATION TOMORROW MORNIN G" "WILL FIND A PALESTINIAN DELEGATION TO NEGOTIATE WITH ." "THE PUBLIC OPION AT HOME WAS, YOU KNOW..." "BOILING." "IT WAS SO VOLATILE" "THAT WE KNEW WE COULDN'T PROCEED WITH THE DISCUSSIONS" "WITH THE NEGOTIATIONS." "Narrator:" "THE PALESTINIAN DELEGATION" "WALKED OUT OF THE WASHINGTON TALKS." "ARAFAT NOW HAD NO LINKS TO THE ISRAELIS." "HE SENT FOR THE NORWEGIAN SOCIAL SCIENTIST" "WHO HAD SET UP THE SECRET BREAKFAST IN LONDON." "ARAFAT TOLD ME" "THAT THE TALKS IN WASHINGTON WERE COMPLETELY STUCK" "AND THAT WAS WHY HE FELT THERE WAS A NEED OF A BACK CHANNEL" "AND THOUGHT THAT THE RESEARC H INSTITUT OSLO" "WHICH I WAS HEADING" "SHOULD BE THE SORT OF FRON T ORGANIZATION FOR THE TALKS" "Y BECAUSE BOTH THE P.L.O. AND ISRAEL NEEDED DENIABILIT" "FOR HAVING SUCH TALKS." "Translator:" "THE FISH WAS HOOKED, AND THEY WERE OFF TO OSLO." "(Ala speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "WE WERE NEARLY ARRESTED WHEN WE LANDED." "WE DIDN'T HAVE VISAS." "NOBODY MET US." "INSTEAD OF BEING TREATED AS V.I.P.s" "WE WERE GRILLED FOR TWO HOURS BY THE NORWEGIANS." "WE HAD TO BE SO CAREFUL" "THAT WE DID NOT EVEN INFOR M TH POLICE" "ABOUT THEIR ARRIVAL." "Narrator:" "ABU ALA, WITH TWO FELLOW PALESTINIANS" "WAS DRIVEN THROUGH THE SNOW TO A COUNTRY MANSION NEAR OSLO." "HERE HE AND THE ISRAELI PROFESSOR GOT DOWN TO BUSINESS." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "I SAID TO ABU ALA" ""WE MUST FOCUS ON TOPICS WHERE AGREEMENT IS POSSIBLE." ""WE MUST PUT TO ONE SIDE" "SUBJECTS WE KNOW WE CAN'T RESOLVE."" "Narrator:" "IN DISPUTE WERE THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES RULED BY ISRAEL" "GAZA AND THE WEST BANK" "AND MOST DISPUTED OF ALL, JERUSALEM." "Translator:" "I SAID, "WE WON'T AGREE ABOUT JERUSALEM."" "HE TALKED ABOUT PALESTINIAN CONTROL" "OF THE ENTIRE WEST BANK." "I SAID, "LISTEN, WE WON'T AGREE TO THAT." "" LET'S FOCUS ON GAZA FIRST." "Translator:" "EVERY PALESTINIAN WAS SUSPICIOUS ABOUT "GAZA FIRST."" "THE ISRAELIS WANTED TO GET RID OF GAZA." "FOR THEM, GAZA WAS JUST A FACTORY OF PROBLEMS" "AND THE INTIFADA." "Narrator:" "BACK IN TUNIS AFTER THE FIRST OSLO MEETING" "ABU ALA VOICED HIS CONCERN ABOUT THE IDEA OF "GAZA FIRST."" "(Ala speaking Arabic)" "D Translator:" "ABU MAZEN SAID, "IF ANY PALESTINIAN LAND IS OFFERE" ""WE SHOULD TAKE IT." "WHY REJECT GAZA?"" "Translator:" "THEN ARAFAT SAID, "I WANT JERICHO AS WELL."" "" I ASKED HIM, "WHY JERICHO?" "HE SAID, "TO GET A FOOTHOL D IN THE WEST BANK." "" GAZA IS A DEAD END, BUT JERICHO LEADS SOMEWHERE." "Narrator:" "JERUSALEM, THE ISRAELI'S CAPITAL" "HAD ALWAYS BEEN CLAIMED BY THE PALESTINIANS" "AS THEIR CAPITAL, TOO." "THE P.L.O. INDICED THAT THEY NOW SAW" "THE WISDOM OF DEFERRING THEIR DEMAND." "R BUT ISRAEL'S PRIME MINISTE" "HAD NOT YET BEEN TOLD ABOUT THE OSLO TALKS." "Translator:" "IT'S POINTLESS TALKING TO ARAFAT AND THE P.L.O." "THE ONLY PALESTINIANS WE DEAL WITH" "ARE THE DELEGATION IN WASHINGTON." "Narrator:" "THE FOREIGN MINISTRY DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO TELL RABIN" "ABOUT THE SECRET BACK CHANNEL." "THOUGH SKEPTICAL, RABIN THOUGHT IT COULD BE USEFUL." "THE PALESTINIAN DELEGATION" "WAS STILL BOYCOTTING THE WASHINGTON TALKS" "AND HE WAS DETERMINED" "TO FORCE THEM BACK TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE." "Translator:" "WE HAD ORDERS FOR THE NEXT SESSION IN MARCH." "AS WE LEFT OSLO, WE TOLD ABU ALA WE WOULDN'T BE COMING BACK" "UNLESS THE WASHINGTON TALK S WERE RESUMED." "IT WAS AN ULTIMATUM." "Narrator:" "ARAFAT NOW HAD TO RESUSCITAT E THE WASHINGTON NEGOTIATIONS." "HE SUMMONED HANAN ASHRAWI AND HER COLLEAGUES" "TO TELL THEM THEY MUST GO BACK." "HE SAID, "WE CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY THE PRICE OF WALKING OUT."" "Erakat:" ""DON'T LIVE IN YOUR SMALL WORLDS." ". "YOU WANT TO BE THE HEROES" ""YOU ARE CONSIDERING ONLY YOURSELVES." ""YOU DON'T CONSIDER SIX MILLION PALESTINIANS." ""YOU DON'T CONSIDER THE PEACE PROCESS." ""IF YOU DON'T GO, YOU BREAK THE PEACE PROCESS." ""YOU'LL BREAK YOUR PEOPLE." "COME ON, GET DOWN TO EARTH!"" "AND HE STOOD UP AND HE LEFT US." "HE WALKED ON US." "SO WE FOLLOWED HIM TO THE OTHER ROOM." "HE WAS SO FURIOUS." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "ABU ALA TOLD ME LATER" ""YOU REALLY SET THE CAT AMONG THE PIGEONS." "" ARAFAT AND I HAD TO TALK THE WHOLE WASHINGTON TEAM ROUND." "HE SAID, "THEY WERE ALL AGAINST GOING BACK." ""WE COULDN'T TELL THEM WHY THEY HAD TO." "" WE GAVE THEM LOTS OF REASONS , ALL COMPLETELY FICTITIOUS." "WE CAME BACK BY CLEAR-CUT ORDERS FROM YASSER ARAFAT: "GO!"" "Narrator:" "SOON AFTERWARDS, ISRAEL'S OSLO TEAM BROUGHT H" "WHICH THE TWO SIDES CALLED "A DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES."" "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "THEY CAME BACK VERY EXCITE D AND SAID, "WE HAVE A DRAFT."" "IT WAS OBVIOUSLY STILL ROUGH , BUT THEY SAID" ""LOOK, THE P.L.O. ARE WILLING TO PLAY BALL."" "Narrator:" "BUT WITH THE WASHINGTON TALKS RESUMED" "RABIN HAD NO FURTH USE FOR THE OSLO TALKS" ". AND ORDERED THEM SUSPENDED" "THE FOREIGN MINISTRY, DESPERATE TO KEEP THEM GOING" "PLACED THE OSLO DECLARATIO N BEFORE A LAWYER RABIN TRUSTED." "I THOUGHT THAT THE DOCUMENT WAS LOUSY" "AND NEEDED TO BE STARTED FROM SCRATCH." "Translator:" "I SAID TO HIM, "LOOK, THE REAL BREAKTHROUGH IN OSL O" ""IS THAT THE P.L.O. HAVE AGREED TO GO ONE STEP AT A TIME." "THIS MEANS THAT WE RETAIN ISRAELI CONTROL."" "THIS MEANarrator:" "E RETAIN YOSSI BEILIN DROVE WITH HIS BOSS" "FOREIGN MINISTER SHIMON PERES, TO SEE RABIN." "Singer:" "I WAS SQUEEZED" "BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM, AND AS WE WERE DRIVING" "YOSSI BEILIN WHISPERED INTO MY EAR." "HE SAID, "WELL, I DON'T WANT TO PUT YOU UNDER TOO MUCH PRESSURE" ""BUT YOU SHOULD KNOW" ""THAT THE ENTIRE FATE" "NOW IS ON YOUR SHOULDERS."" "AND WITH THIS STATEMENT RINGING IN MY EAR" "WE ENTERED RABIN'S OFFICE." "AT THE BEGINNING, THE DRAFTS WERE VERY, VERY BAD TO ISRAEL." "HE WAS SUSPICIOUS THAT THE P.L.O. WAS USING THE OSLO TRACK" "IN ORDER TO SOMEHOW TRICK ISRAEL INTO CONCESSIONS" "AND THEN USING WHAT WAS SAID IN OSLO AGAINST ISRAEL" "IN WASHINGTON." "Translator:" "I SAID, "YITZHAK, FORGET WASHINGTON."" "MAYBE THE P.L.O. WAS TRYING TO TELL US" "AT THEY WERE PREPARED TO BE MORE FLEXIBLE" "THAN THE OFFICIAL POSITION S EXPRESSED IN WASHINGTON." "I HAD MY DOUBTS, BUT I SAID, "GO AHEAD, TRY."" "Narrator:" "RABIN ASKED THE LAWYER TO JOIN THE TALKS IN OSLO" "ALONGSIDE A TOP GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL" "APPOINTED TO SHOW THE P.L.O. THAT ISRAEL NOW MEANT BUSINESS." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "JOEL ARRIVES AND STARTS TO CROSS-EXAMINE ABU ALA." ". I ASKED THEM, "THERE ARE THE SETTLEMENTS" ""I MEAN, IN THE AGREEMENT YOU WROTE" ""THAT YOU WILL HAVE JURISDICTION ALL OVER THE WEST BANK." ""THIS IS WHAT IS WRITTEN HERE." ""NOW, WHAT ABOUT THE SETTLEMENTS?" ""DO YOU INTEND TO GO INTO THE SETTLEMENTS" ""TO SEND YOUR TAX COLLECTORS INTO THE SETTLEMENT" "AND COLLECT TAXES?"" "THEY SAID, "NO, WE WOULDN'T..." "WE WOULDN'T DO THAT."" "S I SAID, "DO YOU INTEND TO USE PALESTINIAN TEACHER" ""TO TEACH THE ISRAELI KIDS IN THE SETTLEMENT SCHOOLS" "" UNDER PALESTINIAN CURRICULA?" "THEY SAID, "NO, NO, NO, NO."" "SO I SAID, "SO YOU MEAN" "" THAT THE SETTLEMENTS WILL NOT BE UNDER YOUR AUTHORITY?" "" THEY SAID, "CERTAINLY NOT." "I SAID, "OKAY, NOT THE SETTLEMENTS." ""NOW, AS TO JERUSALEM" "WILL ISRAEL CONTINUE TO GOVERN JERUSALEM?"" "THEY SAID, "YES."" "I SAID, "OKAY, IT WAS NOT CLEAR IN THE DOCUMENT." "Translator:" "JOEL SAID, "LET'S SAY WE LEAVE YOUR TOWNS." "WHAVE TO MOVE OUR TROOPS SOMEWHERE."" "HE SAID, "IS IT CLEAR THAT ONLY WE CAN DECIDE WHERE THEY GO" "AND ONLY WE CAN DEFINE THE SECURITY ZONES?"" "Translator:" "ALL THOSE QUESTIONS WERE REALLY ABOUT THEIR SECURITY." "EVEN WHEN WE DISCUSSED THE TRANSFER OF POWERS" "IT WAS ALWAYS AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF SECURITY" "HOW THEY WOULD CONTROL SECURITY." "EVERYTHING WAS ABOUT SECURITY." "Translator:" "AND ABU ALA SAYS, "YES, AS LONG AS YOU DON'T MAKE" "THE WHOLE WEST BANK A SECURITY ZONE."" "AND WHEN THEY CAME OUT OF THAT MEETING, ABU ALA CAME UP TO ME" "AND SAID, "THEY TURNED THE DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLE S" ""COMPLETELY UPSIDE DOWN." ""THIS IS ABSOLUTELY CRAZY." "WE CANNOT CONTINUE LIKE THIS."" "BUT THEN ALSO HE SMILEDE END OF HIS OUTBURST, AND HE SAID" ""BUT I LEARNED A HELL OF A LOT FROM THOSE QUESTIONS."" "Narrator:" "AT THE NEXT SESSION, THE LAWYER HANDED BACK TO THE PALESTINIANS" "S THE DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLE" "WITH ALL THEIR VERBAL CONCESSIONS SPELLED OUT" "IN COLD PRINT." "(man speaking Arabic)" "TranINGER STRAIGHT OUT:" ""YOU SEEM TO HAVE COME WITH A MISSION." ""YOU ARE HERE TO DESTROY THE PEACE PROCESS." ""YOU'RE FULL OF HOSTILITY TO PALESTINIANS." ". "YOU'RE LIVING IN THE PAST" ""YOU HAVE A FEAR COMPLEX." ""YOU'RE STILL LIVING IN THE GHETTO." "YOU CAN'T MAKE THE BREAK AND SEE THE WAY FORWARD."" "Translator:" "HIS EYES WERE SHINING WITH ANGER." "AND I SAID, "LISTEN, EVERYTHING THAT I ADDED" ""I TOOK FROM YOUR ANSWERS TO MY QUESTIONS." ""THESE ARE YOUR WORDS." "LOOK AT YOUR NOTES!"" "T Narrator:" "NEXT, THE NORWEGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, JOHAN HOLS" "ACCOMPANIED BY TERJE LARSEN, FLEW TO TUNIS TO VISIT ARAFAT." "IT WAS NOW ARAFAT'S TURN TO RAISE THE STAKES." "Larsen:" "HE WENT INTO A SIDE ROOM" "AND GOT OUT A MAP OF GAZA, WEST BANK AND ISRAEL" "AND STARTED POINTING" "AT DIFFERENT BORDERLINES THAT WE WERE DISCUSSING" "AND THEN AT A CERTAIN POINT IN TIME, HE SAID" ""AND I WANT KISSING POINTS."" "AND I COULDN'T REALLY..." "I THOUGHT, "WHAT DOES HE MEAN?"" "AND I TURNED TO HOLST, AND I SAW THAT HE WAS COMPLETELY PUZZLED." "SO HOLST SAID THEN" ""YOU MEAN 'CROSSING POINTS,' OR 'CHECKPOINTS' MAYBE?"" ""NO, NO, NO," SAID ARAFAT" ""I MEAN 'KISSING POINTS,' LIKE..."" "(kisses air)" "AND WHAT HE REALLY MEANT" "WAS THERE SHOULD BE A KISSING POINT" "BETWEEN GAZA AND THE WEST BANK." "BY WAY OF COMMUNICATION." "Translator:" "TO MY SURPRISE, ARAFAT NOW CAME UP WITH A TOUGHER STANCE." "IT DID NOT REFLECT THE CURRENT COMPROMISE." ". HE ASKED FOR A ROAD FROM GAZA TO THE WEST BANK" "S HE REVIVED OLD P.L.O. DEMAND" "WHICH REOPENED ISSUES WE HAD ALREADY AGREED TO IN OSLO." "Narrator:" "THE PALESTINIAN-CONTROLLED ROAD" "BETWEEN GAZA AND THE WEST BANK THAT ARAFAT WAS ASKING FOR" "WOULD CUT ISRAEL IN TWO." "AND NOW ARAFAT WANTED NOT JUST JERICHO" "BUT THE SURROUNDING DISTRICT AS WELL." "HE ALSO INSISTED THAT JERUSALEM BE PUT BACK ON THE AGENDA." "Translator:" "ARAFAT ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT IF HE WAS GETTING SOMETHIN G" "HE MIGHT AS WELL ASK FOR MORE." "Translator:" "I TOLD ARAFAT, AT THE END OF THE MEETING" ""ALL RIGHT, I SHALL DO AS YOU ASK." ""BUT I KNOW THESE PEOPLE." ""THEY WON'T ACCEPT IT." "E "IF WE PROCEED WITH THIS LIN" "THE ISRAELIS WILL END THE TALKS."" "BUT ARAFAT INSISTED ON HIS STAND." "HE SAID, "THESE ARE MY INSTRUCTIONS.." "THEY CAN TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT."" "Narrator:" "BACK IN NORWAY, THE PALESTINIAN- ISRAELI RELATIONSHIP" "WAS STRAINED BY THE NEW DEMANDS." "ABU ALA, THE CHIEF P.L.O. NEGOTIATOR" "PRESENTED THE NEW HARD LINE." "THE ISRAELIS WERE STUNNED." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "I SAID, "GENTLEMEN, YOU ARE PULLING IT ALL APART" ""ALL THAT YOU PROMISED, ALL WE NEGOTIATED." ""YOU KNOW THE GROUND RULES WE AGREED TO." ""BUT IF WE TAKE YOUR PROPOSALS BACK TO JERUSALEM" "WE CAN KISS THE OD-BYE."" "AND I WAS ABOUT TO PUT MY THINGS AWAY." "SUDDENLY, ABU ALA ASKED US TO REMAIN SEATED AT THE TABLE." "HE WANTED TO MAKE A PERSONAL ANNOUNCEMENT." "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "I INFORMED THEM THAT I WOULD BE RESIGNING." "I HOPED MY BROTHERS IN TUNIS WOULD CONTINUE WITH OSLO." ". IF THEY DID, I WISHED MY REPLACEMENT EVERY SUCCESS" ""GOOD-BYE, MY FRIENDS." "I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER YOU."" "(speaking Hebrew)" "R Translator:" "WE ALL WONDERED WHETHER THIS EXPERIENCED NEGOTIATO" "WAS PULLING SOME KIND OF TRICK..." "OR WHETHER HE MEANT IT." "." "Narrator:" "ABU ALA WALKED OUT INTO THE SURROUNDING WOODS" "Larsen:" "HE'D HURT HIS FOOT" "SO I GOT A STICK FOR HIM WITH A SILVER HANDLE." "SO HE WAS WALKING AROUND" "WITH AN AIR OF SUPERIORITY TOWARDS THE ISRAELIS" "REFUSING TO TALK TO THEM." "AND THEN HE CAME OVER TO M E AND SAID, "IT'S ALL OVER."" "Translator:" "THIS WAS THE MOMENT OF CRISIS" "WHEN YOU EITHER PULL THE PLU G OR DO SOMETHING DRASTIC." "WE DECIDED TO TRY SOMETHING DRASTIC." "Narrator:" "THE ISRAELIS HAD PREPARED AN ALTERNATIVE IDEA" "FOR JUST SUCH A MOMENT." "Singer:" "WE SAID, "LISTEN, THE FACT" ""THAT WE ARE TALKING WITH THE P.L.O." ""WILL EVENTUALLY LEAK OUT." ""I THINK THAT WE SHOU AGRE EMENT" ""IN WHICH THE P.L.O. UNDERTAKES TO DO A NUMBER OF THINGS" ""AND IN RETURN, ISRAEL RECOGNIZES THE P.L.O." "" AS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "SINGER'S POINT" "WAS THAT IF YOU NEGOTIATE WITH THE P.L.O." "YOU'RE VIRTUALLY RECOGNIZING THEM." "Translator:" "RECOGNITION WAS THE KEY." "IT WOULD PUT THE P.L.O. ON THE MAP." "Narrator:" "NOW IN OSLO" "THE MOMENT TO RAISE THE ISSU E OF RECOGNITION HAD COME." "THE ISRAELI FOUND ABU ALA IN A SMALL DRAWING ROOM." "(Savir speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "ABU ALA WAS LEANING ON A STICK, LIKE THIS." "HE RAISED HIS EYES TO ME AND I ASKED HIM, "HOW ARE YOU?"" "AND BAD..." "VERY BAD." """ "Translator:" "I WASN'T ACTING, I WAS GENUINELY ANGRY." "IF YOU'VE BEEN NEGOTIATING FOR SIX OR SEVEN MONTHS" "AND PEOPLE SUDDENLY START COMING UP WITH NEW IDEAS" "IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO GO ON." "I SAID, "LISTEN, ABU ALA, IF WE CAN'T HAVE OUR MODEST AGREEMENT" "LET'S GO FOR SOMETHING REALLY BIG."" "HE LOOKED UP AND SAID, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN?"" "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "URI RAISED THE IDEA OF MUTUAL RECOGNITION" "BETWEEN THE P.L.O. AND THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT ." "HE DICTATED SOME CONDITIONS." "Savir (translated):" "THE MAIN POINTS WERE" "THAT THE P.L.O. WOULD RECOGNIZE ISRAEL'S RIGHT TO EXIST" "RENOUNCE TERRORISM AND VIOLENCE" ". AND CHANGE THE P.L.O. CHARTE R TO REFLECT THE NEW REALITY" "Translator:" "I SAID, "LISTEN." ""IF YOU PERSUADE MR. ARAFA T TO ACCEPT ALL THESE CONDITIONS" ""I PROMISE I'LL TRY TO PERSUADE OUR PRIME MINISTER" ""AND OUR FOREIGN MINISTER TO RECOGNIZE THE P.L.O."" "AND THEN THESE TWO GENTLEMEN , URI SAVIR AND ABU ALA" "CAME SUDDENLY BURSTING OUT OF THE ROOM, LAUGHING AND JOKING" "AND THEY HAD SOLVED THE BASIC PROBLEM." "Narrator:" "IT WAS THE BREAKTHROUGH THEY WERE LOOKING FOR." "IT SEEMED THE P.L.O. WOULD NOW BECOME" "AN OFFICIAL PARTNER IN THE PEACE PROCESS." "WHO KNOWS?" "IF THEY WILL ELECT ME" "I'LL BE THE PRESIDENT AGAI N OF THIS PALESTINIAN STATE." "IF NOT, I'LL..." "I WOULD LIKE TO RETURN BACK TO WORK AS A CIVIL ENGINEER." "Narrator:" "IT WAS N UP TO PRIME MINISTER RABIN" ". TO DECIDE WHETHER TO ACCEPT THE OSLO AGREEMENT" "HIS CHIEF MILITARY ADVISER ARGUED INSTEAD" "FOR A DEAL WITH SYRIA." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "I ADVISED HIM TO TRY FOR PEACE WITH SYRIA FIRST" "AND THEN GO TO THE PALESTINIANS." "PEACE WITH SYRIA WOULD BRING" "THE ARAB-ISRAELI CONFLICT TO AN END." "Narrator:" "IF SYRIA COULD BE PERSUADE D TO SIGN A PEACE TREATY" "ITS CLIENT STATE LEBANON WOULD FOLLOW" "AND THE PALESTINIANS AND JORDAN WOULD HAVE LITTLE CHOICE" "BUT TO FALL IN LINE." "Translator:" "IT WAS IN THE INTEREST OF BOTH US AND THE SYRIANS" "AND IT WOULD REDUCE THE PALESTINIANS' SCOPE" "FOR HAGGLING." "Translator:" "AN AGREEMENT WITH SYRIA WILL MAKE" "A POSITIVE STRATEGIC DIFFERENCE TO ISRAEL." "AN AGREEMENT WITH THE PALESTINIANS" "WOULD JUST BE PUBLIC RELATIONS." "ISRAEL HAD OCCUPIED A STRATEGIC CORNER OF SYRIA:" "THE GOLAN HEIGHTS, OVERLOOKING NORTHERN ISRAEL." "SUCCESSIVE ISRAELI LEADERS HAD REFUSED TO WITHDRAW" "WITHOUT PEACE." "L Man:" "WE KNEW THAT SYRIA WOULD NOT MAKE A DEAL WITH ISRAE" "WOULD NOT MAKE PEACE WITH ISRAEL FOR LESS THAN FULL WITHDRAWAL." "AND, OF COURSE,?" "FOR ANY ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER" "FOR RABIN IN PARTICULAR-- TO MAKE THE DECISION" ". TO GO FOR FULL WITHDRAWAL WAS AGONIZING, WAS WRENCHING" "BUT BEFORE MAKING THE DECISION" "THAT PRIME MINISTER HAD TO KNOW WHAT WAS BEING GIVEN IN RETURN" "WHAT THE SYRIAN PACKAGE CONSISTED OF." "Narrator:" "AT THIS MOMENT" ". A NEW AMERICAN SECRETARY OF STATE CAME TO JERUSALEM" "Christopher:" "WE WERE TRYING TO GIVE" "SOME PROPULSION, SOME MOMENTUM" "TO THE TRACK INVOLVING THE SYRIANS." "Narrator:" "CHRISTOPHER CAME TO MEET WITH RABIN." "Rabinovich:" "THE FOUR OF US CAME INTO THE ROOM" "AND SAT CLUSTERED AROUND.." ". AROUND A SMALL TABLE" "AND AFTER SOME GIVE AND TAKE RABIN SUDDENLY SURPRISED US ALL" "WITH..." "WITH A VERY DRAMATIC GAMBIT." "Christopher:" "HE DID GIVE ME A VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO TAKE TO SYRIA" "TO TAKE TO PRESIDENT ASSAD AND THAT WAS" "HE SAID, "ASK ASSAD, IF I AM ABLE TO GIVE HIM WHAT HE NEEDS" "WILL HE REALLY GO ALL OUT FOR PEACE?"" "Narrator:" "IN OTHER WORDS, IF RABIN WITHDREW FROM THE GOLAN HEIGHTS" "WOULD PRESIDENT ASSAD ACCEPT ALTERNATIVE WAYS" "?" "TO SAFEGUARD ISRAEL'S BORDER" "WOULD SYRIA AGREE TO FULL PEACE" "STOP SUPPORT OF TERRORISM FROM LEBANON" "AND ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC AND TRADE RELATIONS WITH ISRAEL?" "CHRISTOPHER LEFT THE ROOM WITH THE KNOWLEDGE" "THAT HE WAS HOLDING A VERY SIGNIFICANT MANDATE" "IN HIS POCKET." "S Narrator:" "WHEN HE ARRIVED IN DAMASCU" "CHRISTOPHER PRESENTED ISRAEL'S OFFER OF WITHDRAWAL" "TO PRESIDENT ASSAD." "Christopher:" "HIS MISTRUST OF THE ISRAELIS" "WAS SUCH THAT HE ALWAYS TOOK EVERY CONCEPT AND TURNED IT OVER" "AND LOOKED AT IT FROM ALL DIFFERENT SIDES" "AND THAT'S WHAT HE WAS DOING WITH THE CONCEPT OF WITHDRAWAL" "AND HE DID IT BY ASKING ME QUESTIONS" "NOT IMPOLITE QUESTIONS, BUT VERY AGGRESSIVE QUESTIONS." ""NOW, YOU HAVE TO TELL ME, MR. CHRISTOPHER" ""WHAT THE PRIME MINISTER MEANS BY WITHDRAWAL." ". "THAT'S JUST AN EMPTY TERM" "I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT MEANS."" "Narrator:" "CHRISTOPHER THEN SHUTTLED BACK TO JERUSALEM." "Christopher:" "I MET WITH THE PRIME MINISTER AGAIN." "HE WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT ASSAD HAD NOT BEEN MORE FORTHCOMING" "HAD NOT SHOWN MORE APPRECIATION" "FOR RABIN'S WILLINGNESS TO CONSIDER FULL WITHDRAWAL." "ON ALMOST EVERY DETAIL THERE WAS AN ESSENTIALLY NEGATIVE ANSWER" "D OR AN ANSWER THAT SUGGESTE" "THAT A VERY PROTRACTED PROCESS OF BARGAINING" "WOULD HAVE TO..." "TO BEGIN." "Narrator:" "RABIN COULD NOT WAIT FOR PRESIDENT ASSAD." "HE HAD PROMISED HIS VOTERS A PEACE AGREEMENT WITHIN A YEAR" "SO HE NOW SETTLED FOR THE DEAL THAT WAS AVAILABLE" "WITH THE P.L.O. IN OLS" "BUT PREMATURE DISCLOSURE COULD DITCH THE DEAL" ". AND THE MEDIA WERE GETTING CLOSE TO THE STORY" "(man speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "IS THE STAGE BEING SET FOR A MEETING" "BETWEEN YOURSELF AND THE P.L.O. LEADERSHIP" "ARAFAT HIMSELF?" "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "NOT IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE." "(questions in Hebrew)" "Translator:" "BEFORE THE NEXT ELECTION AT LEAST?" "Translator:" "I HOPE NOT." "Narrator:" "RABIN HAD TO ACT FAST." "HE GAVE THE GO-AHEAD TO FOREIGN MINISTER SHIMON PERES." "Singer:" "SHIMON PERES TOLD ME" ""JOEL, TAKE ALL YOUR DOCUMENTS, COME WITH ME." "WE ARE GOING TO CONCLUDE THE AGREEMENT."" "Narrator:" "PERES SET OFF FOR SCANDINAVIA." "TO CLINCH THE DEAL, HE NEEDED A SMOKESCREEN." "HE MET NORWEGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER JOHAN HOLST" "SECRETLY IN STOCKHOLM, AND ASKED HIM TO BE HIS MOUTHPIECE" "IN CASE ANYONE WAS LISTENING IN" "AS THEY TELEPHONED ARAFAT IN TUNIS." "I CALLED ARAFAT AND I GOT HI M IMMEDIATELY ON THE LINE." "AND I TOLD HIM THAT" " IN THE CODE WE USED AT THE TIME" ""ABU AMMAR," WHICH IS ARAFAT'SNOM DE GUERRE" ""I HAVE THE TWO FATHERS HERE"" "THAT WAS THE CODE FOR FOREIGN MINISTERS" ""MY FATHER AND THE OTHER FATHER."" "AND HE IMMEDIATELY UNDERSTOO D WHAT I MEANT." "AND I SAID, "AND THEY WANT TO FINISH EVERYTHING TONIGHT."" "(speaking Arabic)" "." "Translator:" "WE WENT THROUGH THE LAST DISPUTED POINTS ONE BY ONE" "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "THE PHONE'S LOUDSPEAKER WAS TURNED ON" "(speaking Hebre" "Translator:" "I WAS LISTENING IN FOR PERHAPS FOUR OR FIVE HOURS." "Singer:" "AT AROUND MIDNIGHT" ". SHIMON PERES WENT TO SLEEP" "AND HE TOLD ME, "IF YOU NEED MY APPROVAL" "TO GO AND HE TOLD ME, BEYOND THE GENERAL INSTRUCTIONST" "THAT WE HAVE AGREED ON WIT RABIN BACK AT HOME, WAKE ME UP."" "Narrator:" "AT ISSUE WERE THE WITHDRAWAL OF ISRAEL'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT" "AND HOW AND WHEN THEY WOUL D DEAL WITH DIFFICULT ISSUES" "LIKE JERUSALEM." "TWICE I HAD TO WAKE SHIMON PERES UP." "Narrator:" "THE SECOND AND LAST TIME HE WOKE PERES UP" "S WAS OVER THE ISSUE OF WHO WOULD CONTROL THE BRIDGE" "BETWEEN THE WEST BANK AND JORDAN." "Singer:" "WE WANTED TO BE ABLE" "TO CONTROL PEOPLE ENTERING AND EXITING" "FROM THE AUTONOMOUS AREAS TO SEE THAT THEY ARE NOT" "YOU KNOW, CONCEALING WEAPONS AND THE LIKE." "(speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "WE WANTED THE CROSSING POINT S TO BE UNDER OUR CONTROL." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "I SAID TO HOLST" ""TELL HIM WE WILL NOT RETREA T FROM OUR POSITIONS." ""TELL THEM IF WE DON'T SETTLE IT TONIGH T" "IT MIGHT NEVER GET SETTLED."" "(speaking Arabic)" "." "Translator:" "WE AGREED THAT THE CROSSIN G POINTS BE JOINTLY CONTROLLED" "." "Narrator:" "IT WAS 5:00 IN THE MORNING" "AFTER SEVEN HOURS ON THE TELEPHONE" "THEY FINALLY HAD AN AGREEMENT." "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "I THINK THE PHONE BILL WAS PAID BY THE SWEDISH GOVERNMENT." "WE STILL OWE THEM THE MONEY." "." "Narrator:" "PRESIDENT CLINTON AGREED TO HOST A SIGNING CEREMONY" "THEN WITH EVERYONE GATHERING IN WASHINGTON" "AND ON THEIR WAY TO THE WHITE HOUSE" "YASSER ARAFAT NOSSING FROM THE D OCUMENT:" "THE NAME "P.L.O."" "(man speaking Arabic)" "Translator:" "HE SAID, "I CANNOT SIGN THIS DOCUMENT." ""I'M THE CHAIRMAN OF THE P.L.O." ""NOT THE HEAD OF THE PALESTINIAN DELEGATIO N" ""AND ISRAEL HAS RECOGNIZED THE P.L.O." ""SO WHAT ARE THE ISRAELIS UP TO?" "SORT IT OUT."" "(speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "AHMED TIBI RANG ME." "HE SAID, "THERE'S A SMALL MATTER TO BE SORTED OUT." "IT ISN'T SORTED OUT" "THE CEREMONY IS OFF AND THE CHAIRMAN IS GOING HOME."" "I SAW ARAFAT ORDERING THE PLANE TO BE, TO BE READY" "TO LEAVE WASHINGTON IF THEY DON'T ACCEPT THE P.L.O." "Translator:" "I SAID, "LISTEN, ALL THE DOCUMENTS ARE PRINTED AND READY." "IT'S JUST AN HOUR BEFORE THE SIGNING."" "Y Narrator:" "LESS THAN HALF AN HOUR BEFORE THE SIGNING CEREMON" "PERES CALLED ARAFAT'S REPRESENTATIVE TO HIS HOTEL." "HE SUGGESTED THAT THE PHRASE "THE P.L.O. TEAM"" "BE ADDED TO THE DOCUMENT." "(Tibi speaking Arabic)" "" Translator:" "I SAID, "I'LL RING ARAFAT." "I SAID TO ARAFAT, "PERES SAYS, 'HOW ABOUT THE P.L.O. TEAM?" "'"" "ARAFAT SAID, "IN ALL OF THE TEXT?"" "I SAID, "IN ALL THE TEXT."" "HE SAID, "OKAY, TWO KISSES, ONE FOR YOU AND ONE FOR PERES."" "Announcer:" "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:" "MR. ARAFAT, CHAIRMAN OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL" "OF THE PALESTINE LIBERATIO N ORGANIZATION;" "HIS EXCELLENCY YITZHAK RABIN , PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL;" "THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES." "(applause)" "Erakat:" "THE MOMENT I SAW ARAFAT WALKING OUT FROM THE WHITE HOUSE" "(chuckles):" "WITH RABIN NEXT TO HIM AND CLINTON AND SO ON..." "IMAGINE THIS WHITE HOUSE THAT SAID BYE-BYE TO THE P.L.O." "THAT BRANDED ARAFAT AS A TERRORIST" "RABIN, THE CHIEF OF STAFF" "WHO OCCUPIED THE WEST BANK AND JERUSALEM AND..." "IT WAS ELECTRIFYING." "(applause)" "(Peres speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "RABIN DIDN'T WANT TO LOOK AT ARAFAT." "IT WAS TERRIBLE." "THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHIN G HIS BODY LANGUAGE" "AND HE KEEPS MOVING HIS HEAD NOT TO LOOK AT ARAFAT." "(applause)" ". AND I DID NOT THINK THAT THEY WILL SHAKE HANDS" "Arafat:" "HE HESITATED A LITTLE BIT" "BUT I INSISTED AND I CONTINUED STRETCHING MY HAND TO HIM." "(applause)" "T AND THEN THE WAY PRESIDENT CLINTON PULLED I" "IT WAS EVIDENT THAT IT WASN'T PLANNED." "(applause)" "Peres (translated):" "ARAFAT JUST WOULDN'T" "LET GO OF HIS HAND." "HE'S A GREAT EXPERT AT SUCH THINGS." "(cheering)" "Erakat:" "IT WAS A..." "A MOMENT THAT WE RECALL AS LONG AS WE LIVE, I THINK." "Translator:" "AFTER HE FINISHED SHAKING HIS HANDS, RABIN TURNED TO ME." "HE WHISPERED, "NOW IT'S YOUR TURN."" "HE WENT THROUGH THIS HELL, NOW IT WAS MY TURN." "Narrator:" "BUT THE AGREEMBRING PEACE." "S IN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIE" "A LARGE NUMBER OF PALESTINIANS VOWED TO CONTINUE THE FIGHT." "(crowd chanting)" "IN ISRAEL, TOO, THE OPPOSITION WAS FIERCE." "WE THINK THAT THIS ENDANGERS ISRAEL" "AND WHAT I WOULD DO AS PRIME MINISTER" "IS TO DO ANYTHING RESPONSIBLE, WITHIN THE RULE OF LAW" "TO STOP AND NULLIFY THE DANGERS" "THAT EMANATE FROM THIS AGREEMENT WITH THE P.L.O." "TO ISRAEL'S SECURITY." "(masses cheering, music playing over loudspeaker)" "NarratRAFAT LED NOW WAS NOT QUITE A STATE" "NarratRAFAT LED NOW BUT FOR THE FIRST TIME WAS NOIN HISTORYSTATE" "(applause)" "AMONG THE ARAB COUNTRIES" "NOW JORDAN WOULD JOIN EGTH THE ISRAELIS." "E KING HUSSEIN WAS AT LAST ABL" "TO SIGN THE PEACE TREATY HE HAD WANTED." "Hussein:" "WHAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED" "AND WHAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO" "IS THE END OF THE STATE OF WAR BETWEEN JORDAN AND ISRAEL." "(applause)" "." "Narrator:" "BUT BETWEEN SYRIA AND ISRAEL , THE STATE OF WAR CONTINUED" "IN AN EFFORT TO BROADEN THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE" "PRESIDENT CLINTON CAME TO DAMASCUS." "Al-Moualem:" "PRESIDENT CLINTON TOLD PRESIDENT ASSAD" "THAT, WELL, RABIN PRESENTE D TO YOU FULL WITHDRAWAL" "TO THE LINE OF 4 JUNE" "AND WE EXPECT FROM YOU TO NO W TO MOVE THE NEXT STEP." "Narrator:" "CLINTON PRESSED ASSAD TO SEN D HIS TOP MILITARY COMMANDER" "TO MEET HIS ISRAELI COUNTERPART" "AND WORK OUT THE PRACTICALITIES OF ENDING THEIR STATE OF WAR." "IT WAS BIG DECISION FOR SYRI A TO SEND OUR CHIEF OF STAFF" "FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY TO MEET THE ISRAELI CHIEF OF STAFF." "IT'S A VERY HEAVY AND BIG DECISION." "Narrator:" "ASSAD HELD BACK." "FIRST, HE WANTED HIS AMBASSADOR TO WASHINGTON" "TO MEET THE ISRAELI CHIEF OF STAFF." "Translator:" "WE WORE WIGS" "SO THAT WE WOULDN'T BE RECOGNIZED ON THE EL AL FLIGHT." "WE ARRIVED AT THE MEETING PLACE IN WASHINGTON." "ONLY THEN COULD WE BREATHE FREELY" "TAKE OFF OUR WIGS." "I TOOK A LAST LOOK AT MYSELF IN THE MIRROR." "WHENEVER I WEAR A WIG, I LOOK LIKE MY MOTHER." "Narrator:" "THE ISRAELI C THE MEE TING" "BY SPEAKING OF A MILITARY WITHDRAWAL" "WITHOUT SPECIFYING THE PRECISE FRONTIER." "Al-Moualem:" "I INSISTED" ". THAT WITHDRAWAL HAS TO BE TO THE LINE OF 4 JUNE 1967" "I REPEAT THIS WORD MORE THAN 20 TIMES" ". DURING THE TALK WITH BARAK" "Translated:" "LIKE A PARROT, HE REPEATED THEIR DEMAND" "TO WITHDRAW TO THE JUNE FOURTH BORDER." "Narrator:" "THE ISRAELI WANTED A MORE INFORMAL EXCHANGE." "Barak:" "DURING BREAKS" "WE WALKED IN THE GARDEN." "THERE, WE WERE OFF THE RECORD." "Al-Moualem:" "AND WE SPOKE FRANKLY" "WHETHER THEY ARE COMMITTED TO SETTLEMENT WITH SYRIA OR NOT" "WHETHER THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT IT REQUIRES." "Barak (translated):" "ON THE PATIO, THERE WERE THESE ARCHED DOORWAYS." "I COMPARED PEACE BETWEEN US TO THE KEYSTONE OF THE ARCH." "AT THE END, YOU FEEL THAT HE WANTS TO MAKE IT." "HE WANTS TO FIND A SOLUTION, HE WANTS TO GIVE HIS BLESSING." "Narrator:" "THIS ENCOURAGING START LED ASSAD" "TO SEND HIS CHIEF OF SOIN THE TALKS." "THEY DISCUSSED MILITARY SAFEGUARDS" "FOR EXAMPLE, THE FUTURE OF ISRAEL'S EARLY WARNING STATION" "IN THE GOLAN." "TALKS PROGRESSED IN FITS AND STARTS." "(crowd cheering)" "ON THE NIGHT SYRIA AND ISRAEL AGREED" "TO BEGIN A NEW ROUND OF TALK S" "THE ISRAELI PEACEMAKERS HELD A RALLY IN TEL AVIV." "(singing in Hebrew)" "(Peres speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "WE SANG, THE THREE OF US" "THE SINGER MIRI ALONI, YITZHAK AND MYSELF." "YITZHAK AND I ARE NOT SUCH GREAT SINGERS." "HE HAD THE WORDS OF THE PEACE SONG ON A SHEET OF PAPER." "NG, OUT OF TUNE A" "YITZHAK FOLDED IT AND PUT IT IN THE POCKET OF HIS JACKET." "Narrator:" "ON THE WAY TO HIS CAR" "HE WAS SHOT DEAD BY AN ISRAELI EXTREMIST." "THREE BULLETS WENT THROUGH HIS HEART" "AND THROUGH THE SONG." "(man speaking Hebrew)" "Translator:" "THE GOVERNMENT OF ISRAEL, WITH SHOCK AND SORROW" "ANNOUNCES THE DEATH OF PRIME MINISTER YITZHAK RABIN" "WHO WAS MURDERED BY AN ASSASSIN TONIGHT IN TEL AVIV." "(man shouting in Hebrew)" "?" "Translator:" "WHY?" "WHY HAVE THEY DONE THIS" "I AM VERY SAD AND VERY SHOCKED" "FOR THIS AWFUL AND TERRIBLE CRIME" "AGAINST ONE OF THE BRAVE LEADERS OF ISRAEL AND THE PEACEMAKERS." "(speaking slowly in Hebrew)" "Translator:" "WE WENT TO THE ROOM WHERE HE WAS LYING ON THE BED." "HIS BODY WAS COVERED WITH A SHEET UP TO HERE." "ON HIS FACE WAS AN EXPRESSIO N OF PEACE, AND MAYBE IRONY." "IT WAS HIS TYPICAL RABIN SMILE." "I KISSED HIS FOREHEAD AND SAID GOOD-BYE." "Narrator:" "PERES NOW BECAME PRIME MINISTER." "PRESIDENT CLINTON WAS DETERMINED TO SEE" "A THAT RABIN'S COMMITMENT TO SEEKING PEACE WITH SYRI" "DIDN'T DIE WITH HIM." "THE AMERICANS STILL WANTED ISRAEL TO KEEP RABIN'S PROMISE" "TO WITHDRAW FROM THE GOLAN HEIGHTS." "Christopher:" "RABIN HAD HELD THE SYR RATHER CLOSELY TO HIMSELF" "SO WHEN HE WAS ASSASSINATE D" "ALL OF A SUDDEN IT BECAME VERY IMPORTANT" "TO PASS ON TO NER PERES" "WHAT HAD HAPPENED, BEEN HAPPENING." "PRESIDENT CLINTON SAID, "HERE ARE THE PROMISES YITZHAK GAVE."" "HE ASKED IF THESE PROMISES COMMITTED ME." "I SAID, "WHATEVER YITZHAK WAS COMMITTED TO" "I AM COMMITTED TO."" "Narrator:" "PERES ASKED THE AMERICANS" "TO ARRANGE A SUMMIT WITH PRESIDENT ASSAD" "SO THAT PERES COULD REPEAT HIS OSLO TRIUMPH" "AND BRING THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH SYRIA TO A QUICK CONCLUSION." "Translator:" "I TOLD HIM TO ASK ASSAD" ""DO YOU WANT TO FLY HIGH AND FAST OR LOW AND SLOW?"" " WE ARE READY TO FLY HIGH AND FAST IN ONE CONDITION" "TO KNOW WHEN WE LAND AND WHERE WE LAND." "Y PRESIDENT ASSAD, IN MY JUDGMENT, MISSED A HISTORIC OPPORTUNIT" "BECAUSE HE WASN'T PREPARED TO TAKE A GREATER RISK FOR PEACE." "Narrator:" "PERES HAD SET A DATE FOR THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION." "S BUT THEN, FOUR DAYS LATER, PALESTINIAN TERRORIST ATTACK" "CHANGED ISRAEL'S POLITICAL LANDSCAPE." "Reporter:" "IT WAS A FEROCIOUS BLAST." "THE SUICIDE BOMBER DETONATED TEN KILOS OF EXPLOSIVES" "IN THE MIDDLE OF A CROWDED COMMUTER BUS." "Narrator:" "24 ISRAELIS WERE KILLED." "A WEEK LATER" "A PALESTINIAN TERRORIST PLANTED ANOTHER BOMB ON A BUS." "THIS TIME, 19 DIED." ". THE PROMISES OF PEACE AND RECONCILIATION SEEMED HOLLOW" "D AS NEW ELECTIONS APPROACHE" "MANY VOTERS CARED MORE ABOUT SECURITY THAN PEACE." "Translator:" "THESE TERRORIST ATTACKS LOST US 20% IN THE POLLS." "IT WAS CATASTROPHIC." "I KNEW ANOTHER BOMB WOULD EN D THE WHOLE THING." "Narrator:" "THE TERRORISTS STRUCK AGAIN." "IN TEL AVIV'S BUSIEST SHOPPING STREET 14 DIED AND OVER A HUNDRED WERE INJURED." "(sirens blaring)" "(cheering)" "TOGETHER, THE ISRAELI ELECTORATE AND PALESTINIAN EXTREMISTS" "HAD BROUGHT FOURTH A NEW, MORE MISTRUSTFUL ISRAELI LEADER." "THE MAJOR E BEFORE THE ELECTIONS" "WHEN I SAID THAT I WOULD HONOR THE OSLO ACCORDS" "EVEN THOUGH I THOUGHT THEY WERE..." "THEY CONTAINED MANY FLAWS." "Narrator:" "NEVERTHELESS, NETANYAHU AGREED" "TO PARTIAL PALESTINIAN CONTROL OF HEBRON" "BUT FOR 18 MONTHS AFTERWARDS THE PEACE PROCESS WAS PARALYZED." "IN OCTOBER 1998, UNDER NSIDERABLE AMERICAN PRESSURE" "ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS MET IN A HOTEL OUTSIDE WASHINGTON." "ON THE TABLE WAS A PROPOSA L FOR AN ISRAELI WITHDRAWAL" "FROM ADDITIONAL TERRITORY ON THE WEST BANK" "IN RETURN FOR NEW SECURITY GUARANTEES" "AND THE ANNULMENT OF ALL CLAUSES IN THE PALESTINIAN CHARTER" "CALLING FOR THE DESTRUCTIO N OF ISRAEL." "ONE PEACEMAKER WAS GENERAL ARIEL SHARON" "WHOSE FIERCE REPUTATION AS A WARRIOR" "HELPED PROVIDE CREDIBILITY TO THE PROCESS." "(applause)" "NINE DAYS OF DIPLOMATIC URGING, CAJOLING, INTERVENING" "AND ARM-TWISTING BY PRESIDENT CLINTON" "FINALLY PRODUCED RESULTS." "THIS AGREEMENT IS GOOD FOR ISRAEL'S SECURITY." "G THE COMMITMENTS MADE BY TH E PALESTINIANS WERE VERY STRON" "AS STRONG AS ANY WE HAVE EVER SEEN." "WE ARE MORE SECURE TODAY" "BECAUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE SIGNING OF THE OSLO ACCORDS" "WE WILL SEE RETE AND VERIFIABLE COMMITMENTS" "CARRIED OUT." "THIS AGREEMENT IS GOOD" ". FOR THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF PALESTINIANS" "Y IT SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDS AREAS UNDER PALESTINIAN AUTHORIT" ". TO SOME 40% OF THE WEST BANK" "Translator:" "WE WILL NEVER GO BACK." "WE WILL NEVER LEAVE THE PEACE PROCESS" "AND WE WILL NEVER GO BACK TO VIOLENCE AND CONFRONTATION" "NO RETURN TO CONFRONTATION AND VIOLENCE." "(applause)" "Narrator:" "TO SUPPORT THE AGREEMENT" "KING HUSSEIN LEFT HIS HOSPITAL BED" "WHERE HE WAS BEING TREATED FOR CANCER." "HE WENT RIGHT TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER." "WE QUARREL, WE AGREE." "WE ARE FRIENDLY, WE ARE NOT FRIENDLY." "BUT WE HAVE NO RIGHT" "S TO DICTATE THROUGH IRRESPONSIBLE ACTION OR NARROW-MINDEDNES" "THE FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN AND THEIR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN." "THERE HAS BEEN ENOUGH DESTRUCTION" ". ENOUGH DEATH, ENOUGH WASTE" "AND IT'S TIME THAT TOGETHER, WE OCCUPY A PLACE" "S BEYOND OURSELVES, OUR PEOPLE" "THAT IS WORTHY OF THEM UNDER THE SUN" "THE DESCENDANTS OF THE CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM." "Narrator:" "AFTER 50 YEARS OF WAR AND SUFFERING" "A HALTING, TENTATIVE PARTITION OF PALESTINE WAS UNDERWAY." "FUNDING FORTHE 50 YEARS WAR:" "ISRAEL AND THE ARABS" "WAS PROVIDED BY:" "AND PBS VIEWERS LIKE YOU." "THIS IS HISTORY'S BEST ON PBS."