Date: March 24, 2008
Meeting: Ahmed Qurei and Tzipi Livni

 

Qurei: “Israel became a member of the UN once it recognized 194 and 181.”

Tal Becker (Livni adviser) : “We would disagree with this.”

(Later)

Livni :“UNRWA is part of the problem, not the solution.”

(Later)

Livni: “What about the people who suffered from terror attacks, are you going to apologize?”

Erekat: “We do. We condemn each one.”

Livni:“People suffer during war. People suffer with their lives. They die. We can relate both of us to the suffering.”

(Later)

Livni: “Compensating refugees is an international matter and that is why reference to responsibility would be wrong. [The reason for this is] because it was a problem for all Arab states, then it became a Palestinian Israeli conflict, with the Arabs on the sidelines asking for a resolution.”

(Later)

Livni: “I feel like we can’t refer to the past.”

Qurei: “I do not want to go back to the past to become its slave but to pave the way for the future.”

 

Date: June 21, 2008

Meeting: Post-Annapolis Plenary Session
Ahmed Qurei, Tzipi Livni

Livni : “Instead of responsibility we can talk of suffering of both our people. By the way on responsibility – whose responsibility is it for keeping them in the camps? The Arab world! Responsibility is not just about the war, but what happened after. For creating false hope. [We need to address also] the Jewish refugees. Maybe as part of the international fund.”

Erekat : But we never caused anything to the Jews. This will not be in an agreement.

(Later, in response to a request for “compensation for occupation.”)

Livni:“The answer is a dramatic NO. We don’t want to put in [findings] for all the terrorism. The Israelis killed.”

Erekat: “You will [pay compensation].”

Livni:“I’m sure we’ll do it, not under the headline of 'compensation for occupation.'”
 

Date: July 16, 2008

Meeting: US-Palestinian bilateral

Condoleezza Rice: “If you want to talk about responsibility it is the responsibility of the international community, not Israel. They created Israel.”

[National Support Unit (part of PLO’s negotiation’s department) member Zeinah Salahi argues that Israeli actions post-statehood are clearly their responsibility. This is dismissed by Rice.]

Rice: Responsibility is a loaded term. [Notes the example of reparations for slavery in the US.] I’ve always objected to it. It’s not forward looking. Would I personally be better off? I don’t know. But I do support affirmative action.[…] Bad things happen to people all around the world all the time. You need to look forward.

(Later)

Rice: On the narrative – you need to move to try to imply responsibility without using that word/saying it directly.