Hosny Khashaba, Mideast editor of Asharq al-Awsat newspaper: Need for international pressure (3'02")

The US Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, has failed to bridge gaps between Israeli and Palestinian leaders following talks with both men.

Instead, she has proposed that President Bill Clinton should meet them separately next month to try to breath new life into the Middle East peace process.

Mrs Albright said she held substantive and intensive talks with the Israeli Prime Minister, Binyamin Netanyahu in Paris and the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, in London, saying "gaps remain."

Clinton urged to meet Mideast leaders

"With that in mind, I am going to recommend to the president that he meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu and Chairman Arafat separately in Washington in January," she said.

The US Secretary of State has been trying to break a nine-month deadlock in the peace talks. She wants Israel to offer a firm troop pullback in the West Bank and for the Palestinians to take action to stop guerrilla attacks.

Mrs Albright said very hard decisions were needed by both the Israelis and the Palestinians if 1998 was to be a good year for peace in the Middle East.

Arafat talks of security cooperation

While in London, Mr Arafat confirmed that Palestinian and American officials had agreed on the text of a document on security cooperation with Israel.

Netanyahu: Non-committal on security deal

Speaking after talks with the British Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook, he said he hoped Israel would approve the document.

Earlier the Israeli Prime Minister had denied that a detailed plan had been worked out. Mr Netanyahu described it as a general set of principles.

Mr Arafat said he might meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for talks on the stalled Middle East peace process.

Mr Arafat said the talks would be held in the presence of a third party, probably the United States.

The Palestinian leader was speaking after meeting British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook in London.

Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage	©