The empirical case in this paper highlights the respective implications of publicity and secretary in international negotiations. In the official negotiations in Washington the parties encouraged obstacles, as intense publicity expected every phase of the process and led to polarized negotiating positions. In addition, the PLO did not officially participate in these negotiations and attempted to block them so as to indicate to Israel that it had to feel with the PLO directly. To break deadlocks, enhance flexibility, explore new formulas, and test each other's sincerity, a secret back channel was created in Oslo. Because at that time Israeli law prohibited direct negotiation with the PLO, the Israeli negotiators were initially unofficial person. An important role was played by the Norwegian Foreign Ministry, which facilitated the communication channel and provided, in cooperation with NGOs (the Norwegian FAFO and Israeli ECF), a cover for the parties to negotiate in secrecy.