President Clinton's drive to conclude a Middle East peace deal within 10 days appears to be faltering with the delay of a trip to the region by his special envoy Mr Dennis Ross.
Israel and the United States said Mr Dennis Ross had delayed his trip until tomorrow. A Western diplomat said Washington wanted to give Israeli-Palestinian security talks more time to make headway before Mr Ross's visit.
Senior Palestinian negotiator Mr Saeb Erekat said: "Ross will delay his visit for another few days."
The visit could be President Clinton's last bid for a peace breakthrough before he leaves office on January 20th, and Israeli prime minister Mr Ehud Barak's last hope for his re-election in a February 6 nationwide vote.
Palestinian Information Minister Mr Yasser Abed Rabbo said: "We did not receive anything to confirm that he canceled," but suggesting Mr Ross’s arrival was of little consequence, he added: "It's not a question now of whether he comes or not."
Mr Clinton outlined his plan for an agreement in New York this week, including Israeli withdrawal from most of the West Bank and Gaza and a Palestinian renunciation of the right of millions of refugees to return to their old homes in Israel.
In Balata refugee camp near Nablus in the West Bank, about 20 masked Palestinian gunmen burned photos of Ross on which it was written in English: "Go back. No resettlement for refugees."
Hamas officials called for the Palestinian uprising to continue during a rally in Nablus attended by thousands in honor of Hamad Abu Hijleh, an engineering student whom they called a hero for his role in the bombing this month in Israel.
Meanwhile, violence across the region continues. Four Palestinians were shot in the legs by Israeli soldiers and Jewish settlers, said witnesses in the West Bank town of Silet al-Thaher, near Jenin. They said many others were treated for teargas inhalation.
Reuters