Outgoing Israeli premier Mr Ehud Barak has told US President George W. Bush that peace proposals raised by Mr Bush's predecessor, Mr Bill Clinton, are not binding on the new Israeli government, Barak's office said today.
"The ideas raised in negotiations with the president of the Palestinian Authority, notably those brought up at the (failed July) Camp David summit and by President Clinton, will not bind the new government that will be formed in Israel" Mr Barak said in a letter to Mr Bush.
The peace process was based on the principle that "nothing is concluded until there is an accord," said Mr Barak.
Mr Clinton himself had said his proposals would no longer be valid after he left office last month, he noted.
Mr Barak lost his bid for reelection on Tuesday when he was soundly beaten by rightwing Likud party leader Mr Ariel Sharon.
The statement added that, before he had sent the letter to Mr Bush, Mr Barak spoke with Mr Clinton by telephone. The former US leader had confirmed what he was saying.
AFP