Israel delays peace talks decision

More clashes have erupted on the edge of Ramallah

Israel has delayed a decision on whether to accept Palestinian proposals for further peace talks after the death of an Israeli teenager.

Sixteen-year-old Ofir Rahum was killed on his way to meet a young woman, with whom he believed he had been conducting a romance via the internet.

Mourners attend the funeral of Ofir Rahum

No official explanation has been given for the postponement, but a peace cabinet meeting had been due to start shortly after his funeral on Friday.

The Palestinians had proposed holding a series of intensive meetings in Egypt up to a deadline of the Israeli election on 6 February in an effort to end the deadlock in the peace process.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said he did not expect to receive word on whether the talks will go ahead before Saturday evening at the earliest.

A spokesman for Prime Minister Ehud Barak did not specify when the peace cabinet would now meet, but Israel Radio has suggested it could be on Saturday night.

E-mail trap

Ofir Rahum's bullet-ridden body was found on Thursday in the West Bank, but it is unclear whether he was lured into a trap or was the victim of an arbitrary attack.

Israel army radio suggested the victim was lured to the area through an exchange of e-mails with a woman.

Both the Israelis and the Palestinians have condemned the killing.

Israeli security sources said the boy was a resident of the Israeli town of Ashkelon and had been missing for a few days before an army patrol found him.

Peace 'closer than ever'

Despite the postponement, Israeli Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami said on Friday that the two sides were closer to peace than ever.

His words were echoed in separate letters sent to both sides by US President Bill Clinton, who has spent the last few weeks of his presidency making a final attempt to broker a peace deal.

President Clinton: 'Don't give up on peace'

"Never before have you been as close to achieving your goals, regaining your land, building a prosperous future for your children," read Mr Clinton's letter to the Palestinians.

He urged the Israelis: "Don't give up on the pursuit of peace. Not now when it is almost within reach."

A peace deal before the Israeli election in February would offer Ehud Barak his best chance of defeating his right-wing opponent Ariel Sharon.

Opinion polls in Israel have consistently given the leader of the opposition Likud party a big lead over the prime minister.