Background:
The recording included a press conference that was organized after the peacemaker’s summit that took place on March 13, 1996. The summit was held in Sharm al-Shaykh and was chaired by President Muḥammad Ḥusnī Mubārak and President Bill Clinton. The summit was held following Palestinian militant attacks on Israeli civilians to support the Oslo Process. Syria and Lebanon boycotted the conference because they felt it put emphasis on Israeli’s interests at Arab expenses. The summit was also seen as support for Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres who was running against Benjamin Netanjahu on May 29, 1996.
Side B:
At the beginning of the press conference, President Mubārak and President Clinton gave opening speeches. Mubārak stated that the conference is a new living symbol of cooperation. He said that the conference was composed of two sessions that were coordinated smoothly without any interventions. All leaders of the conference cooperated to combat terrorism.
Clinton stated the three main objectives of the conference in his speech which were: (1) to enhance the peace process, (2) to promote security, and (3) to combat terror accordingly. He then read a statement that concluded the outcome of the conference (For the full statement please click on the following link:
http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/foreignpolicy/peace/guide/pages/summit%20of%20peacemakers%20-%20sharm%20el-sheikh-%20march%2013-.aspx).
He finally announced that he will head off to Israel to meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu (in office starting June 18, 2016) to continue these peace processes.
Both presidents were asked several questions in this press conference. The first question was for both presidents to state their opinion on the closure of the Palestinian territories and the collective punishments pursued by Israel. Mubārak said that the closure was starting to be released and that there was a discussion with Prime Minister Peres (in office until June 18, 2016) and President Clinton that the gates would be open for supplies. Clinton believed that some people saw those restrictive measures as a collective punishment while others saw these measures essential for combating terrorism.
It was questioned if measures were taken towards countries which are believed to be funding terrorist organizations. Peres had previously stated that Libya was one of those countries. Nevertheless, Mubārak believed that no country should be accused unless there was strong evidence. Clinton also talked about the efforts in the peacemaker’s summit statement regarding searching for the sources of financing terrorist groups.
The absence of Syria in the conference made a journalist question the success of this conference. Both Mubārak and Clinton agreed that Syria is committed to peace and that it is ready for negotiation but it had its own reasons for not attending the conference. President Clinton said that it is important to look at the positive outcomes of this conference rather than focusing on the failures.
Clinton identified his reasons behind his visit to Netanyahu. He said that it will reaffirm peace and security with Israel. He wants to meet with both parties of the conflict to reach a solution.
Clinton and Mubārak were asked if there will be a long gap between this conference and the implementation of the statement. Mubārak believed that there would be obstacles in any peace process and agreed with Clinton that the pace of the process is not in the control of anyone, although nothing will stop the peace process as long as everyone is committed it.
Clinton was then asked whether the U.S was willing to isolate Iran as it is funding Ḥamas and how he would feel if one of the family members died in Israeli attacks. President Clinton believes that he will still isolate Iran and will not initiate dialogue with a state that promotes terrorism. He met with two Jewish American families who lost some of their members in Israel and believes that the attacks were tragic.
President Mubārak was then asked if there was any insurance for the development of the peace process. He stated that he cannot ensure the peace process because any terrorist act might occur at any time and their job is to combat terrorism wherever it is.
Both Chairs of the conferences were asked if their country adopted mechanisms against Islamic extremism in Egypt, Israel and United States. President Clinton talked about the Egyptian efforts combating terrorism, but President Mubārak insisted that Islam should not be associated with terrorism in the first place.
