Twenty Years Later, Chief Peace Negotiator For Camp David Says: “Arafat Wouldn’t Do It”

Ross came back to the Middle East, but found that Arafat had not changed, making him dubious about progress. He tried to bridge the issues, and found some enthusiasm on both sides.

Unfortunately, Arafat ratcheted up the violence. Ross then set up a back channel between the Israelis and the Palestinians, and the violence subsided. With five weeks remaining in the Clinton administration, Ross outlined a deal, and asked Arafat if he could do it, and he said yes.

Ross still had doubts. He then came up with the Clinton parameters – guidelines for a permanent status agreement. The night before he presented the parameters, he met with Mohammed Dahlan, a prominent Palestinian politician, who asked Ross, “what are you going to make us swallow?” Ross outlined the deal, and Dahlan didn’t say a word for five minutes, and then he said, “go ahead.”

They were presented on December 23, 2000, and the Israeli government accepted on December 28. 

But Arafat couldn’t bring himself to accept. And Ross concludes, “the main problem was the end of the conflict. Arafat couldn’t do it. It would end his identity.”

Ross shared an anecdote to illustrate his point. At one point he told Arafat he was taking a vacation. “Arafat said he wanted to take one, too.” Ross told him he should, and Arafat replied that his last vacation was in 1962. “Then go,” Ross told him. “How can I take a vacation from my people?” Arafat replied.

If a deal is not possible, and it probably isn’t, then what should be done? Camp David taught Ross to think smaller: what steps can be taken to “make the situation better?”