The Jordanians and the Palestinians "are twoseparate peoples," Annab said in expressingopposition to the idea of a country underJordanian-Palestinian rule.
"Fifty to eighty percent of Jordanians areoriginally Palestinian," said Annab, who is aneditor of The Crimson. "But many of them arerefugees who are waiting to go back to theirhomeland."
Annab acknowledged that security issues make itdifficult for Israel to give Palestinians anautonomous state, but he also said that such abold move might be necessary for peace.
"It's kind of difficult for Israel to just givethe Palestinians a state because of security,"Annab said, "but I think if they did give thePalestinians their own state, there would bepeace."
And Annab added: "I don't think thenegotiations between Israel and the PLO accuratelyreflect what the Palestinians want, which is anindependent state."
But while he strongly disagreed with theforeign minister, Annab said he found Peres to beopen.
"I'm glad he wanted to talk to students," Annabsaid. "I think his answers were very clear and Ithink he really knows how the Palestinians feel,even though he may not agree with it."
At one point, Peres was asked how a peaceinitiative could succeed if only half the Israelisand half the Palestinians supported it.
In answering, the foreign minister made a pointof acknowledging the complex nature of the peaceprocess by saying that no one can completelysupport either side.
"To be honest about it, each of us is divided,"Peres said. "You don't make up your mind with 100percent of feelings and support."
"In a democracy, it is still preferable to havea small majority than a large minority. It is atime of choice and decision, and that is what weare doing--democratically."
Frank T. Apodaca '97, who attended the event,said it was this statement that impressed himmost..
"I liked the way he said that every persondoesn't support either side 100 percent," Apodacasaid, "but that you've got to go with the majorityin a democracy."
"I have a Jordanian friend in this entryway,"Apodaca said. "I haven't talked to her much aboutthis issue, but now that I've heard the speech Iwant to."
Andrew H. Kim '97 said he found Peres' emphasison security most striking.
"There's one thing that really stood out for mein his speech," Kim said. "You cannot haveequality unless you end the terror first. I foundthat to be really profound."
Toward the end of the speech, Peres reiteratedhis firm commitment to pace.
"None of us has a choice but to go ahead,"Peres said. "Even if the Palestinians did notchange, even if we did not change, the would haschanged. What is important in life can no longerbe acquired by an army."