Clinton seeks Mid-East breakthrough

Friday saw more bloodshed despite the peace talks

US President Bill Clinton is to meet Israeli and Palestinian negotiators on Saturday at a critical stage in the peace process.

We are facing a crisis - we are not close on any of the issues

Palestinian negotiator Yasser Abed Rabbo

Secretary of State Madeleine Albright spent two hours talking to both sides on Friday, as the Palestinians spoke of crisis in the negotiations.

Violence continued unabated, with at least four Palestinians killed in a day of unrest in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. In one incident, a Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up and wounded three Israeli soldiers in the West Bank.

A BBC correspondent in Jerusalem says the talks are at a critical stage, with speculation that a breakthrough on the status of Jerusalem could be imminent.

Key issues

The peace talks went into their fourth day at Bolling airbase in Washington, with Mrs Albright meeting the two delegations.

The suicide attack left three Israelis seriously wounded

"She had very serious discussions. She heard their assessment of where they are and where they need to go," said spokesman Philip Reeker.

But US officials declined to comment on how the talks were going, except to say that despite reports of tension, both sides were still at the negotiating table.

Friday's talks focused on the key issues of Jerusalem and Palestinian refugees, amid reports that Israel offered greater Arab sovereignty over parts of Jerusalem in exchange for Palestinian concessions on the right of Arab refugees to return to Israel.

The Palestinians cannot expect that only the Israeli side presents flexible positions

Israeli embassy spokesman Mark Regev

But in contrast with previously positive signals, the Palestinians accused the Israelis of backsliding on previous offers.

"We are facing a crisis. We are not close on any of the issues," said negotiator Yasser Abed Rabbo.

The Israelis denied the allegation.

"There is no backtracking," said Israeli embassy spokesman Mark Regev. "The Palestinians cannot expect that only the Israeli side presents flexible positions."

The talks are expected to conclude on Saturday, and Mr Clinton will meet the lead negotiators before considering his next steps.

If sufficient progress is made in Washington, the administration says a senior US official could be sent to the region next week.

After the bitter collapse of the Camp David talks in July, US officials say Mr Clinton will not try to convene an Israeli-Palestinian summit unless he is convinced that a deal is possible.

Suicide bomber

About 350 people, mostly Palestinians, have been killed since the current violence erupted at the end of September.

Tensions once more spilled over into violence on Friday - the Muslim holy day.

A Palestinian suicide bomber thought to be a member of an extremist Islamic group blew himself up in the West Bank village of Mehola.

The man detonated explosives strapped to his body while at an outdoor cafe frequented by Israeli soldiers near a Jewish settlement.

"A terrorist went into the restaurant and blew himself up with an explosive charge," said Yossi Goren, chief of the ambulance service in the village.

Three Israeli soldiers were seriously wounded.

In other violence a Palestinian worker was shot dead in the Gaza Strip and in the West Bank another Palestinian, a teenager, was shot by Israeli soldiers during clashes.

The Aqsa mosque has become a symbol of the Palestinian uprising

In a separate incident a Jewish settler shot and killed a Palestinian who he said was trying to attack him with a knife.

The Israelis had banned Muslims under the age of 45, and in some cases 35, from praying at Jerusalem's holy sites.

But in the narrow streets of Jerusalem's Old City there were running battles between Palestinians and Israeli police as worshippers were turned away from the walled Old City.

At least one Palestinian was hurt and another arrested.