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.
Israeli foreign minister, Mr Shlomo Ben-Ami, his country’s chief negotiator with the Palestinians, has cut short a Paris visit 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 Bill Clinton, who has sketched a peace blueprint, had spoken several days ago with Mr Ehud Barak and Palestinian President 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.
Reuters