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Israeli, Palestinian Negotiators Arrive in Washington for Talks
Israeli and Palestinian negotiators arrived in Washington on Tuesday, December 19, to meet with US mediators on how to end the violence in the Middle East and resume peace efforts.
Both sides seem to have low expectations over the talks which will last for three or four days at an undisclosed venue in the Washington Area.
Saeb Erekat, who led the Palestinian delegation, told reporters at Washington's National Airport ��"To be honest with you, with all that's going on now, I do not have high expectations." Israeli negotiator Gilead Sher sounded a similar tone. "We don't have very high expectations but we do think that if we have a chance, we have to try and exploit it now," he said.
The Israeli delegation arrived without Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami, who had to stay behind for Monday's crucial Knesset (Israeli parliament) vote on whether to disband itself for the February 6 elections. The minister will be here later on Tuesday.
Initially, Israeli and Palestinian sides are expected to hold parallel bilateral talks with US mediators, including US.
Middle East envoy Dennis Ross. But it is also reported that there may be Israeli-Palestinian or three-way meetings including the Americans.
The talks, which diplomatic sources said would take place at Bolling Air Force Base on the Potomac River in southeastern Washington, are expected to end by Thursday night or Friday morning.
US officials have said that President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright would follow the discussions closely and might meet the negotiators in the due course of the talks.
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