    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book I)]
    [June 15, 2000]
    [Pages 1147-1148]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Prior to Discussions With Chairman Yasser Arafat of the Palestinian Authority and an Exchange With
    Reporters
    June 15, 2000

    Middle East Peace Process

        The President.  Good morning, everyone. I'm delighted to have
    Chairman Arafat and his team back here again, and I'm looking forward to
    our conversation.
        Q.  Do you fear that the Palestinian track is in danger of collapse,
    Mr. President?
        The President.  No, I think it's an important moment, and we just
    have to keep working on it.
        Q.  Mr. President, are you going to put any pressure on the
    Palestinians concerning the third redeployment, which is supposed to
    happen on the 23d of this month?

    [[Page 1148]]

        The President.  What I would like to do today is just get on to our
    business and our conversation and not say very much. If we're going to
    make peace, we're going to have to deal with the difficult issues, and
    the less we say now, the better, I think.
        Q.  Mr. President, President Arafat was reported to be very upset
    with the way the Israelis are handling the negotiation. What is your
    assessment now, especially as time is running out before the deadline of
    September 13th?
        The President.  I don't think I should characterize what's going on.
    I can only tell you that I want to finish the job, and I'd like to see
    it finished on time.

     Note:  The exchange began at 9:44 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. A tape was not available for verification of the content of this
    exchange.