Chronology of Summit Talks at Camp David

T H U R M O N T, Md., July 20, 2000 -- Following is a chronology of theMiddle East summit talks at Camp David.

June 28 — Secretary of State Madeleine Albright meetsIsraeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian PresidentYasser Arafat in the Middle East to try to arrange a summitbefore a crucial Sept. 13 peace deadline. Palestinians saylower-level talks are needed before any summit, but both sidessay they will defer to President Clinton on how to proceed.

July 5 — Clinton invites parties to Camp David, site oflandmark 1978 Israeli-Egyptian peace accords, saying there is“no guarantee of success” for talks.

July 10 — Barak’s coalition shatters as three right-leaningparties bolt government over fears the prime minister willconcede too much to Arafat. Barak narrowly survivesno-confidence motion on eve of departure for Camp David.

July 11 — Clinton launches summit behind wall of officialsecrecy. During a photo session, Barak and Arafat joviallywrestle to insist the other be first to enter a cabin.

July 12 — Removing an irritant in Israeli-U.S. relations,Barak cancels signed deal, strongly opposed by Washington, tosell advanced airborne radar system to China. Barak and Arafathold bilateral meeting without U.S. mediation.

July 13 — Arafat threatens to walk out, sources say, inanger over U.S. bridging proposals Palestinians say are tooclose to Israeli positions. Clinton intervenes and withdrawsproposals, averting crisis. White House calls talks “tense.”

July 14 — Washington bars three Palestinian officials, pastopponents of Arafat’s interim peace deals, from entering CampDavid for meeting aimed at shoring up the Palestinian leader.Clinton, Barak and Arafat hold second trilateral meeting.

July 15 — Talks slow for Jewish Sabbath. Sources reportrising Palestinian optimism. Israelis say gaps remain wide.

July 16 — Clinton tells New York’s Daily News “some progress” has been made but it is unclear if talks, thetoughest he has experienced, will succeed. Expert-level teamsdiscuss water, economics and civil affairs at U.S. center nearCamp David.

July 17 — White House says talks intensify, Clinton intendsto depart for Group of Eight summit in Japan on July 19. Israeliand Palestinian sources call next 24 hours critical to anybreakthrough.

July 19 — Clinton delays trip to Japan for one day tocontinue round-the-clock efforts to broker a peace agreement.

Barak threatens to walk out of summit, sending Clinton aletter saying Palestinians are not a “true partner for peace.”

Palestinian sources say White House offers last-ditchproposal to salvage deal under which Israel and the Palestinianswould share sovereignty in part of the Old City of Jerusalem andthe Palestinians would have sovereignty in some areas outsidethe 1967 city limits. Israel would keep sovereignty over therest of the city.

White House announces that summit ends with no agreement.

Shortly after the announcement that the talks had failed, Barak and Arafat agree to remain at Camp David with their negotiating teams while President Clinton attends an economic summit in Japan.