Jeg mener, at Ariel Sharons provokation i september, billiget af dem, der kunne have forhindret den, og de hundreder af palæstinensere, der er blevet slået ihjel siden da, har skabt et klima i det palæstinensiske samfund, som forhindrer præsident Arafat i at acceptere sene - om end måske fornuftige - fredsforslag, der, hvis de var blevet forelagt tidligere, efter min mening kunne have ført til en aftale.
I believe that the provocation by Ariel Sharon in September, which was permitted by the people who could have prevented it, and the hundreds of Palestinian deaths since then, have created a climate in Palestinian society which makes it difficult for President Arafat to accept late - although maybe reasonable - peace proposals which, had they been presented earlier, would, in my view, have lead to an agreement.