Item FIFTY YEARS WAR 7/12 - Transcript of interview, 1997, with Mahmoud Zaidan Abbas, senior PLO official

Typescript transcript of filmed interview with Mahmoud Zaidan Abbas (Abu Mazen), senior PLO official (1980-1996) describing the response of the PLO officials in Tunis to the intifada (1987-1988); position of the PLO and contacts with Saddam Hussein during the Persian Gulf War (1990- 1991); debate amongst Palestinian leadership concerning the US peace initiative and Palestinian meetings with James Baker, US Secretary of State 1989-1992 (Mar 1991); the role of the PLO in the Madrid Conference (Oct-Nov 1991); the bilateral talks with Israelis at Washington, the Palestinian reaction to Israel's expulsion of Hammas leaders (Dec 1992) and restarting of talks (Apr 1993); Palestinian contacts with Israeli academics Yair Hirschfeld and Ron Pundak, the development of the Oslo talks, discussions of Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and Jericho, and mutual recognition of PLO and State of Israel, as well as telephone negotiations between Peres and Israelis in Stockholm (17 Aug 1993); disclosure of the Oslo agreement to Palestinian delegation at Washington talks (1993); and negotiating the Hebron Agreement with Benjamin Netanyahu (Sep 1996). 48pp