The empirical case in paper highlights respective implications of publicity and secrecy in international negotiations. In the official negotiations in Washington the parties encountered obstacles, as intense publicity exposed every phase of the process and led to polarized negotiating positions. In addition, the did not officially participate in these negotiations and attempted block them so as to indicate to Israel that it had to deal 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 persons.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 secrecy
The secret back-channel negotiations were intended to supplement the official negotiations and give the process new vitality and impetus. It was suggested that a DOP agreed upon in Oslo be presented in the official negotiations as an American document. However, the United States seems never to have been fully informed about the back channel and did not take it seriously. When Israel and the PLO began to negotiate a mutual recognition, it was decided that the DOP would have to be concluded in the Oslo channel
In sum,this case highlights why secrecy may be essential,as well as the role of actors such as the media, private citizens,and NGOs. Secret back-channel negotiations are often sought when negotiations involve vital security or economic interests; when concessions and compromises are intricate and problematic; when official negotiations encounter serious deadlocks; when the negotiation positions; is overly exposed by the media, leading to rigid negotiating positions;or when politically divided societies are involved in which active domestic groups may oppose negotiations.