There appears to be a breakthrough in the Middle East peace process. The White House has confirmed that the Palestinian leader has accepted US proposals for a framework plan which would lead to a new round of peace talks. However a senior aide to Yasser Arafat said the agreement was subject to certain conditions. The latest development follows three hours of discussions between the Palestinian leader and President Clinton. Following this, Mr Arafat had met with Arab foreign ministers in Cairo later today to discuss President Clinton's proposals for peace with Israel.
It has also been confirmed that Israel will send a member of its negotiating team to Washington to consult on a possible peace breakthrough with senior U.S. officials, possibly including President Bill Clinton. P.J. Crowley, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, said Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak agreed to send the representative during the second of two telephone calls with Clinton, who is trying to arrange a last-ditch peace deal before leaving office Jan. 20. Crowley said the talks with the Israeli representative would take place either late on Thursday or on Friday. He declined to identify the Israeli but reports from the region said it might be senior peace negotiator Gilead Sher.
