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Saturday, 31 July, 1999, 10:59 GMT
Wye deal in the spotlight ![]() Since the election of Ehud Barak as Israeli prime minister the main issue on the Israeli-Palestinian track of the peace process has been whether or not he will implement the Wye River accord. The deal was a package of measures signed in October 1998 by former Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and PLO leader Yasser Arafat and guaranteed by the United States President Bill Clinton.
The former prime minister accused the Palestinians of reneging on the security clauses. Many Arabs suspected him of being unwilling or unable to withdraw from territory captured by Israel in 1967. Mr Barak now wants to delay the last stage of withdrawal from the West Bank to tie in with so-called final status negotions on Jerusalem, borders, sovereignty and Palestinian refugees. Mr Arafat believes this would strengthen the Israeli position in these negotiations, which deal with the most complicated of all Arab-Israeli issues. He therefore wants Wye implemented in full and as soon as possible. Mr Barak has promised not to suspend implementation unilaterally. The commitments made at Wye were as follows: ![]() West Bank withdrawal
Safe passage
Gaza Airport
Releasing prisoners
![]() Security guarantees
Charter amendment
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