The collapse of the talks between Israel and the Palestinians in Camp David caused disappointment among the public in Israel as well as among the Palestinian people and around the world. During two weeks of marathon talks, the longed-for agreement could not be reached, with the main focus of dispute being - as expected - the question of Jerusalem. However, other crucial issues, such as the refugee question, also remained unsolved.

The Israeli Communist Forum sees Israel and the United States as responsible for the collapse of the talks, because of raising unjustified and unreasonable demands, such as Palestinian recognition of continued Israeli occupation of most parts of East Jerusalem, including all of the Old City where there are places which members of all three monotheistic religions consider particularly holy. Also the proposal to postpone the final decision on the issue of Jerusalem and to sign meanwhile agreements on all the other issues is not reasonable, since it also means in essence the acceptance of continuing Israeli occupation in all of Jerusalem for an indefinite period. This issue is of interest not only to Palestinians, but also to the entire Arab World and to all Muslims and Christians - from whom came praise to Arafat for not giving in to the American-backed Israeli ultimatum.

Nevertheless, it is important to remark that in Camp David the long-time Israeli taboo was broken, the taboo stating that "United Jerusalem" - a term referring to all of Jerusalem and including also enormous areas which had been annexed to it after the war in June 1967 - would never be divided, but would remain for ever under Israeli sovereignty, and that this subject should be altogether non-negotiable. And if the reports are indeed true that during the summit the Israeli side was willing to accept the foundation of the state of Palestine on 90% of the territory of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, then this position, too, is a step in the right direction - even though it does not go far enough - compared with former Israeli government positions.

As for the Refugees Question, we reject the position of the government of Israel, which refuses to recognize any historical responsibility for the problem and its solution. The proposal to allow the return of only a very small number of refugees, without recognizing the principle of the refugees' right to return to their homeland or to receive compensations, in accordance with the UN resolutions, that is not only unjust - from the political and the moral point of view - but also constitutes an additional serious stumbling block on the road to any possible agreement.

The Israeli Communist Forum remarks that recent developments emphasize once more how justified the historical positions the Israeli Communist Party have been - the only party in the Knesset to oppose the war of conquest of June 1967 and already since then advocating withdrawal from all Occupied Territories, including Arab East Jerusalem. Only few others concurred with these positions - at that time and even until recently.

For example, before the last Knesset elections, the Meretz Party rejected a proposal to even discuss changing its program on the issue of Jerusalem. Thus, Meretz went to the last elections while still proclaiming adherence to the "United Jerusalem under Israeli rule" formula. Only after the proposals of Barak in Camp David were reported did the Meretz leadership change its position. Exactly the same happened earlier with the recognition of the PLO - also then Meretz changed its positions only after the Labor Party had changed its own.

We congratulate the activities of all peace seekers, who demonstrated at highway junctions around the country, went marching for peace, bicycling for peace, and put up tents in support of the peace process and initiating cooperation with Palestinians. Most impressive was the activity of the Bereaved Parents for Peace, especially the inclusion in many activities of Palestinian bereaved parents as well - which was unprecedented, and of extraordinary effect on public opinion. Still, we regret to note that the overall number of participants in these activities was too small, while the opponents of peace did mobilize on many occasions the wider circle of their supporters - including inhabitants of the settlements - for activities against the peace process. Therefore, it is vitally important to continue, and to widen the activities in favor of peace. In this context we would like to congratulate the Yesh Gvul Movement for renewing its activities, and express once again our solidarity with the people of conscience organized by that movement for their refusal to take part in military service aimed at perpetuating the cruel rule of occupation and the oppression of the Palestinian people.

The Israeli Communist Forum is worried about the inflammatory utterances against the Palestinians made by the Prime Minister since his return; his continuing refusal to carry out Israel's previous obligations to the Palestinians; and the contacts which he initiated with the Likud Party, aimed at the creation of a "National Unity Government", whose creation would gravely set back the chances for peace in the region and raise immense dangers. In trying to resolve his cabinet crisis, Barak should rely on the political forces, which support peace, rather than upon its staunchest opponents.