Neither side expressed optimism Monday. Their plan calls for separate, bilateral talks with the United States, at least in the beginning. U.S. special Middle East peace coordinator, Dennis Ross, was to serve as interlocutor.
An Israeli source told United Press International that a summit meeting between Barak and Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat was likely only if the Washington talks are "highly successful and a success is guaranteed."
Recent reports talked of a U.S. proposal for a trade-off in which Israel would make concessions over its demand for sovereignty on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, Judaism's holiest and Islam's third holiest site, in exchange for Palestinian concessions on their demand for a right of return for their refugees.
Israeli Justice Minister Yossi Beilin, discounted those reports saying he was not aware of any Israeli concession on the Temple Mount or any Palestinian decision to forgo the "Right of Return."
Senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat said, "If Israel does not commit itself to implement the Security Council resolutions 242 and 338 [that call for an Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories to recognized and secure boundaries] and 194 related to the rights of return for refugees, the possibility of reaching a deal with Israel would be impossible."
Erekat said neither Israel nor the United States offered any new official ideas in relation to the final status issues that would lead to a permanent settlement between Israel and the Palestinians.
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