Israeli, Palestinian negotiators: A search for peace

Salah Ta'amari and Lt. Col. Olivier Rafowicz

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BETHLEHEM, West Bank (CNN) -- Palestinian and Israeli negotiators have been meeting this week in an effort to reach a peaceful end to the standoff at the Church of the Nativity, where about 200 Palestinians have been holed up for three weeks.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Israel would accept a plan under which those not involved in terrorism would be set free from the site, revered in Christendom as the birthplace of Jesus. A group of 30 Palestinians whom Israel has accused of terror attacks would face trial in Israel or exile in a third country, according to Sharon's proposal. The Palestinians rejected the idea, and proposed allowing the 30 to go into exile in Gaza.

Early Thursday, authorities announced an agreement had been reached to allow the release of 10 to 15 Palestinian who have been caught inside the church during the standoff. The development raised hopes of a breakthrough in the impasse.

To get their views on the standoff and the negotiations, CNN spoke with chief Palestinian negotiator Salah Ta'amari, and with Lt. Col. Olivier Rafowicz, a member of the Israeli negotiating team. Here are excerpts from the interviews.

On the talks

RAFOWICZ: I think that the fact that we are sitting together, trying to find a peaceful solution to this crisis, is a very important step. So, by nature I'm an optimistic person. But because it is a so-delicate and so-sensitive issue, I'm quite happy that at least after 21 days, both sides are sitting together, trying to find, again – we'll say it the right way – to solve this issue and avoid problems, prevent wounded, casualties. It is a way to solve these issues, and I hope it will be solved by these means.

TA'AMARI: I think it was positive and constructive and we feel that problems could be solved and gaps could be bridged. It's not all wishful thinking, but it seems that once we listen to each other, not just to ourselves, then we address the issues more objectively and more constructively.

On a timetable for resolution

TA'AMARI: It depends on them. If they accept our proposal, it could be solved in 24 hours. It could be solved in one hour.

RAFOWICZ: In the land of God, the Holy Land, as you know, it is very dangerous to give a timetable or schedule. So, let's be hopeful, but let's keep this hope in rational terms. We have to be patient, and to wait, to wait safely. We have a lot of work to do together, and we'll continue to keep these channels of communication open.

On conditions in the church

RAFOWICZ: Very tough situation, very difficult situation for them. They say that they have not seen daylight for more than two weeks. They are just receiving a cookie for dinner, supper and lunch every day. They are beaten. They are afraid.

TA'AMARI: Oh, yes, they can [last]. They can. Sometimes, when we were in prison, we went on hunger strikes for 20 days. They can [last].

On the Church of the Nativity

TA'AMARI: Sometimes -- I don't want to be philosophical -- sometimes, I think we negated 2002 years of history. I felt the same way when I saw the Church of the Holy Family ruined. I'm thinking of lives wasted. I think it is so unnecessary. Peace is inevitable and freedom is inevitable.

RAFOWICZ: This place, the Church of the Nativity, is a holy place. It's the holiest place for the Christian world and we have no intention at all to cause any damage to the place.

On hopes for peace

RAFOWICZ: We have to take the right steps. We have to be careful. We have to be realistic. And, above all, we have to avoid, by all means, that the church will become the center of violence and of combat. So, with all these limits and constraints, we'll have to find the right way to solve this issue. I hope that we find a way.

TA'AMARI: I'm talking convictions now, and faith. Peace is inevitable, whether they like it, we like it, or not. It is our fate to live together, but not as masters and slaves, not as occupiers and people under occupation. As neighbors. It's part of the bitterness of the present moment. There should be people who can see the sun behind the clouds, who can see the dawn behind the night. We cannot keep ourselves the captives ... of the present moment. We should think future, look future.