Senior Israeli and Palestinian negotiators are planning to meet later tonight to try to boost the Middle East peace process, officials from both sides confirmed today.
Israel eased its presence in Palestinian areas today and officers from both sides toured trouble spots as part of a plan to quell violence before the resumption of talks.
Israeli foreign minister, Mr Shlomo Ben-Ami, his country’s chief negotiator with the Palestinians, has cut short a visit to Paris and was returning home for diplomatic consultations.
Palestinian officials said Mr Ben-Ami and senior negotiator Mr Gilead Sher will meet Palestinian negotiators for talks on a framework for a final peace.
A senior Palestinian official said US president Mr Bill Clinton, who has outlined a peace formula, had spoken several days ago with Mr Ehud Barak and Palestinian president Mr Yasser Arafat on arranging a meeting between top negotiators.
Mr Barak's office said that efforts are continuing to reduce violence and to define positively a framework that will open the way for the continuation of negotiations during President Clinton's term.
Mr Clinton leaves the White House in nine days.
In the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Israel eased the restrictions on Palestinian travel it had imposed after the outbreak of violence in September.
In a first step, Israel lifted its blockade of the West Bank towns of Qalqiliya and Jenin, opened Gaza International Airport and permitted travel from the West Bank to Jordan and from Gaza to Egypt.
The confidence-building measures are part of a US plan, submitted earlier this week. The plan outlines a timetable for steps to be taken by both sides in order to reduce friction, including the lifting of travel restrictions within the next few days.
AP & Reuters