Messrs. Warren B. Rudman and George J. Mitchell
Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson & Hand
901 - 15th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20005-2301

Dear Messrs. Rudman and Mitchell:

We appreciate the clarification in your letter of May 11 that the group in no way equates Palestinian terrorism with Israeli settlement activity.

Unfortunately, the report is now being used by the Palestinian side - we heard today that they intend to try to have the Security Council adopt it in a resolution, and Yasir Abed Rabbo in an Op Ed piece in The New York Times reinforced Palestinian intentions - to link the stoppage of violence to the end of all Israeli settlement activity. It is in that context that Camp David is so important, because at Camp David Israel agreed not only to stop building settlements but to dismantle 80 % of the settlements. And the violence ensued after such an offer, making it clear that settlements were not the issue.

We agree with you that confidence-building on all sides is important but the ending of the violence is the paramount issue that should precede anything else. We wish that message had clearly come forth from your report.