Barak recounts Clinton‑mediated peace talks with Arafat, hinting at hard concessions on refugees, West Bank and Jerusalem

Barak recounts Clinton‑mediated peace talks with Arafat, hinting at hard concessions on refugees, West Bank and Jerusalem The passage provides a first‑person recollection by former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak of the substantive trade‑offs discussed during the 1998‑1999 Clinton peace summit. It mentions specific policy points (refugee resettlement, West Bank land swaps, Jordan Valley security, Jerusalem governance) and names senior Israeli officials (Gili Sher, Danny Yatom) and the involvement of a Shin Bet line, which could be useful for tracing diplomatic communications or undisclosed concessions. However, the content is largely narrative, lacks concrete dates, financial figures, or new revelations beyond what is already public, limiting its investigative payoff. Key insights: Barak describes the pressure on Arafat to abandon claims for hundreds of thousands of refugees inside pre‑1967 Israel.; He notes Israel would need to cede a large portion of the West Bank, possibly >80%, and consider land swaps.; Security oversight of the Jordan Valley and a compromise on Jerusalem’s governance are highlighted as deal‑breakers.