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"Anyone want to bet that the "paper" wasn't given to Sharon for his comments/additions prior to its circulation?"

>Is this an allusion to the July 2000 Camp David summit which in the new book, "The Truth About Camp David," author Clayton Swisher makes the claim that Clinton ordered (during his absence to attend a fund raiser) that Dennis Ross take the draft over to Ehud Barak to give him a "sneak preview," and when changes were demanded by Barak, Ross made them, thereby undermining on the part of the Palestinians' confidence that the U.S. could be a fair broker and draftor? That it was these things that Swisher lists, and not that there wasn't a "peace partner," that caused the summit to fail? Has this allegation been confirmed elsewhere, and was it relevant?

>>Sure it is very relevant to any Palestinian propogandist who starts with the view that if they did not get every single thing they wanted and more they will revert to savages and it is the fault of the Jews.

>>>If I understand the author, Clayton Swisher, he contrasted that compromised process with the process President Carter followed when he was able to bring Egypt and Israel together in a permanent peace agreement.

Swisher goes on to say that there was then a concerted campaign between America and Israel to blame Arafat for there not being any peace partner, for turning down "the deal." Swisher says that in Dan Meridor's own words, who was one of the Likud’s members that Barak brought with him: "he [Meridor] talks about the night before staying up with [American Middle East Envoy] Dennis Ross and drafting the blame speech."

Yet according to Aaron Miller, Deputy Middle East Envoy, “There was no deal, there was no formalized offer.” Also from General Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, former IDF Chief of Staff who was one of Barak’s negotiators at Camp David, “It was not a serious dialogue.”

So the question arises whether the public has been given information by which to make informed assessments? (see Clayton Swisher's appearance on BookTV for the sourcing for this information: http://www.c-spanstore.org/cgi-bin/cspanstore/174221-1.html?id=WCHLXnZ8 )

The impression that the Palestinian position was "if they did not get every single thing they wanted and more" does not seem to apply to what these people are saying were the facts of the situation.

Swisher says that by misrepresenting what actually took place, positions were hardened and polarized leading to a situation where almost 1100 Israelis and almost 3300 Palestinians have been killed since, whereas in the three years preceding this missed Camp David opportunity that only 12 Israelis, as tragic as that is, had died.

If the situation were reversed, and instead the draft had been carried to Arafat for the "sneak preview," hopefully there would be just as much and more concern for Israel's sake about the integrity of the process. Also, if Clayton Swisher - who comes across as a sincere young man, and who recommends reading all the books of those who were involved, not just his - is wrong on the facts in his book, this reader would be interested.

Hopefully lessons learned will serve to strengthen the negotiation process now underway, and it will lead to a permanent peace such as Israel, Egypt and Jordan together enjoy.