Mideast Peace Talks Resume With a Pep Talk From Christopher

WASHINGTON — Arab and Israeli delegations reopened peace talks Tuesday after a four-month break during which the delicate process was nearly scuttled by an upsurge of bloody violence in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Secretary of State Warren Christopher urged the negotiators to keep the talks going as a way of demonstrating their determination to settle the dispute, thereby preventing militant forces on both sides from taking advantage of any lull and trying to destroy the peace process.

“In the absence of peace talks, the environment . . . became far worse,” Christopher said. “The enemies of peace have sought to take advantage of the absence of talks. They sought to spoil the atmosphere for peacemaking.”

Christopher summoned the Israeli, Syrian, Jordanian, Lebanese and Palestinian delegations to his office for their first joint meeting since the talks began 18 months ago in Madrid.

“The parties here today . . . understand that they all have an enormous responsibility in their hands . . . (and) an opportunity for tranquillity in an area that has for too long known no real peace,” Christopher said.

After the ceremonial session with Christopher, the negotiators resumed separate talks between Israel and its Arab antagonists.

Although Christopher has promised that the Clinton Administration will be a “full partner” in the talks, he said that Washington has no intention of presenting a plan of its own. A solution must be worked out between the parties themselves, he said.

Despite the break, the negotiations started about where they had broken off in December, with each side reciting well-known positions.

“There is nothing important to report today,” said Syria’s chief negotiator, Mouwafak Allaf. His Israeli counterpart, Itamar Rabinovich, agreed.

Nevertheless, Middle East experts said that chances are relatively good for progress. Despite the hard-line rhetoric, both Israelis and Arabs seem to have positioned themselves to respond in kind if the other side offers concessions. The problem is that none of the parties appear ready to make the first gesture.

“We are willing to explore every course of action needed in order to move these talks with the Palestinians forward, provided there is a serious approach on the other side,” Israeli spokesman Yossi Gal said.

He said that the Israelis are ready to discuss Palestinian self-government over such areas as “land and water, police, economy and a few other things.” He provided no details.

In the past, Palestinian negotiators have complained that Israel was trying to talk about limited self-rule while refusing to yield control over land and water and security matters.

Meanwhile, in Damascus, Syria’s official government newspaper, Tishrin, warned that if the talks failed, it would bring the Middle East to “the brink of new wars, tension and bloody violence.”

And in the Israeli-occupied Gaza Strip, Israeli troops wounded 57 Palestinian demonstrators protesting the resumption of the talks. Although the Palestine Liberation Organization supports the peace process, many militant Palestinians object to any sort of negotiations with the occupying power.