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Clinton, Arafat Discuss Restarting Talks
U.S. President Bill Clinton and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat held a 45-minute telephone conversation Saturday on ways of resuming Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.
Arafat's adviser Nabil Abu Rudeina said that Arafat and Clinton agreed to work together to reach an agreement as quickly as possible. But he gave no details.
Clinton's spokeswoman Mary Ellen Countryman said earlier that the outgoing president was trying to help restart the Palestinian- Israeli peace talks, but no concrete proposals was on the table.
Senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat said Saturday that the Palestinians want a summit with Israel and the United States to reach an accord on the final status of the Palestinian territories.
"If there are negotiations, they must be held in a summit aimed at finishing what was started at the Camp David summit," Erakat said.
Brokered by Cliton, Arafat and current Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Ehud Barak met at the Camp David presidential retreat near Washington in July, but the summit failed due to disputes over the status of Jerusalem.
The ensuing outbreak of the Palestinian-Israeli bloody clashes on September 28 have led to a complete halt of contacts between the sides.
High-level contacts resumed last week and reports are running high that a tripartite summit between Arafat, Barak and Clinton would be held in Washington.
"Contacts exist but no invitation has been sent for a summit," said Erakat. Israeli Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben Ami and Erakat are planning to meet later Saturday to continue talks, according to Israeli radio.
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