Palestinians wary of US plan

Many Israelis will fight any plan that lessens control over East Jerusalem

Palestinian negotiators have asked US President Bill Clinton to clarify parts of his Middle East peace initiative on the eve of a planned summit with the Israelis in Egypt.

Mr Clinton says both sides are now closer than ever before to a peace accord, which reportedly covers the future status of Jerusalem and Palestinian refugees.

Reported American proposals

Israel to concede sovereignty over much of East Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa mosque

Palestinians give up the right of return for Palestinian refugees

Palestinian state on 95% of the West Bank and 100% of the Gaza Strip

But it is not yet certain whether the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, will meet the Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Barak, in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

The Israeli cabinet is meeting on Wednesday night to formulate Israel's response to the Clinton initiative, presented last week at the end of five days of talks in Washington.

Asked whether he was still going to the summit on Thursday, Mr Barak told Israeli television: "It depends on the results of the (cabinet) meeting tonight, Arafat's reply, and the overall picture that emerges".

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A Palestinian official said a letter expressing Palestinian reservations on numerous aspects of the Clinton plan had been sent to the US.

Commenting on the latest efforts to reach a peace deal, Mr Clinton said: "The issues are extremely difficult, but they are closer than they have ever been before and I hope and pray they will seize this opportunity".

More than 350 people, almost all Palestinians, have been killed since the latest wave violence began in late September 2000.

The blueprint, devised after three months of bloody conflict, is widely seen as the last chance for a settlement before Mr Clinton leaves office in January, and Mr Barak faces a critical election in February.

Cautious

The Israelis have also been cautious in assessing the latest proposals from Washington.

"We also have many reservations. They [the Palestinians] will present reservations, we will present reservations and on this basis, the president will decide if there is a platform for a summit," Israeli Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami said.

"My assessment is both sides will answer 'yes, but'."

Palestinian sources said that President Clinton's proposals meant that Israel would keep 5% of the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, which it captured along with Arab East Jerusalem in 1967.

A vexed issue: Jewish protesters try to enter Al-Aqsa mosque on Wednesday

The proposals reportedly also call for a long-term lease by Israel of a further 3% of the land, and "1% annexation of Jewish settlements" in Jerusalem.

Other details include Palestinian sovereignty over part of the holy site revered by Muslims as Haram al-Sharif and by Jews as Temple Mount.

Palestinians would control the top of the compound, while Israel would control the area underneath, including Judaism's Western or Wailing Wall.

Right of return

The right of return for Palestinians displaced when Israel was established remains a vexed question.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said his leadership was not prepared to scale back its demand for the return of Palestinian refugees to Israel - a key concession in Mr Clinton's plan.

Mr Erekat said the Palestinians continued to insist that the refugee question be answered in accordance with United Nations resolutions, which underline their right of return to their homes in what is now Israeli territory.

Even if Israeli and Palestinian officials agree to compromise on the key issues and reach a deal, both sides are likely to face considerable domestic opposition to a final peace deal.