2.2. Answer the following questions.

1. Why did the Israeli government declare that the plans by the UK foreign minister secretary were unacceptable?

2. Why doesn’t the international community recognize Israel’s claim to full sovereignty over Jerusalem?

3. What was the purpose of Mr Cook’s visit to the Middle East?

4. What new proposal was tabled by the Israeli government? Why?

2.3. As the article to follow is rather long, read the following questions first to give you an overview of the piece. Then try to answer them.

1. What are the major bilateral disputes between India and Pakistan?

2. Why is it so important for both states to build and expand confidence-building measures?

3. What was the major outcome of the summit?

India and Pakistan end summit with pledge to hold more talks

India and Pakistan yesterday pledged to step up efforts to solve bilateral disputes following the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Pakistan in a decade.

The most substantive bilateral summit between Indian and Pakistani leaders in almost thirty years ended with a pledge to begin talks on security to build confidence following both countries’ nuclear test explosions in May last year. They said confidence-building measures would include giving each other advance warning of any ballistic missile tests.

But while full of positive symbolism and friendly rhetoric the summit proved to be short of specific measures to address differences that have dogged relations between the two countries for more than 50 years.

Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, India’s prime minister, said: “I’ve been here 24 hours [and] I feel that in those 24 hours the distance between Delhi and Lahore has become less.”

Mr Vajpayee was greeted by Mr Nawaz Sharif, his counterpart, at the Wahga border post on Saturday while inaugurating the first bus link between the two countries since independence.

Mr Vajpayee’s unexpected decision earlier this month to inaugurate the route in person catapulted the event into becoming an impromptu summit, which both leaders grasped as an opportunity to inject political will into a dialogue that has faltered in the wake of the nuclear tests.

In speeches over the weekend both leaders stressed their desire to avoid nuclear conflict and address bilateral differences more vigorously.

Mr Sharif told a press conference that the summit reflected “an earnest desire … to turn a new leaf in the chapter of India-Pakistan relations.” Mr Vajpayee said: “We should walk together, but the steps should become faster.” In a short “Lahore Declaration”, the two leaders said they shared a “vision of peace and stability” while also recognizing that their new nuclear status “added to their responsibility for avoidance of conflict.”

The two-page document promised that both sides would “intensify efforts” to resolve all issues including the intractable issue over Jammu and Kashmir, over which the two sides have fought two of their three wars.

Each promised to “refrain from intervention and interference in each other’s internal affairs,” to take “immediate steps” to cut the risk of accidental nuclear war, and to intensify their dialogue.

They agreed to upgrade talks begun after their nuclear tests to ministerial status. Sartaj Aziz, Pakistan’s foreign minister, said the talks were likely to take place in Delhi next month.

Guardian. 1999. 20 February.