Barak arrives in U.S. for talks with Clinton

In this story: A Palestinian appeal Israel to Palestinians: 'Lower the violence' Light fighting Saturday RELATED STORIES, SITES

CNN State Department Producer Elise Labott and Correspondent Fionnuala Sweeney contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The focus of the Middle East crisis moved to Washington on Sunday, as Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak arrived for talks on how to end more than six weeks of Israeli-Palestinian fighting.

Barak landed at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland at 5:55 p.m. EST.

In the Mideast, clashes on Sunday claimed the life of one Palestinian in Gaza, raising the death toll to 207 people since violence broke out September 28.

VIDEO CNN's Brian Palmer reports on Yasser Arafat's bid for U.N. intervention Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) Palestinians say the street is calling the shots, putting pressure on leaders. CNN's Christiane Amanpour explains (November 10) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)     MESSAGE BOARD Mideast peace

Barak was traveling to the U.S. capital at the behest of U.S. President Bill Clinton, who met with Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat at the White House on Thursday.

The Israeli prime minister's flight to the United States was interrupted when he turned his plane back toward Israel to deal with a hijacked Russian airliner that had been forced to land in the Jewish state.

But a quick and peaceful resolution of the hijacking allowed Barak to turn around again and resume his flight to Washington.

A Palestinian appeal

The U.S. and Palestinian leaders discussed Arafat's appeal for an international protection force to act as a buffer between Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli soldiers. U.S. officials rejected the idea, citing Barak's refusal to consider such a force.

Israeli officials see Arafat's attempt to expand the players in the peace process to include the United Nations and the European Union as "writing new rules of the game." This, said one U.S. official, "questions American legitimacy in the process and basically says what has been done over the past seven years (of Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking) is no good."

On Friday, Arafat left Washington for New York, where he took his case for a 2,000-member protection force to the U.N. Security Council.

Israel to Palestinians: 'Lower the violence'

Israeli officials also say that they have not seen an attempt by the Palestinians to "lower the violence" and that Arafat has been sending "conflicting messages" to his security service, Palestinian militants and the public about his desire to see the current conflict end.

"He hasn't done enough to tone it down," said one Israeli official.

Arafat said during an address to the Council on Foreign Relations that his people were "besieged" by Israeli gunfire. He blamed the Palestinian uprising on the visit of Israeli opposition Likud party leader Ariel Sharon to a shrine holy to both Muslims and Jews on September 28.

Sharon has said the Palestinians were using his visit to the holy site as an excuse to attack Israeli soldiers.

The Palestinian leader said Thursday he was willing to attend another summit with President Clinton, but only if it were well-prepared "to ensure its success."

Light fighting on Sunday

The death toll in the fighting reached 207 people on Sunday -- 175 Palestinians and 32 Israelis, of whom at least 13 were Israeli Arabs, according to the International Red Cross.

One Palestinian was killed in a cross-fire between Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli soldiers in Gaza.

On Saturday in Gaza, the Israeli Army said two Palestinians in a car opened fire on Israeli soldiers in a Jeep. The Israelis said they returned the fire, killing two Palestinians.

Palestinians denied opening fire on the Israelis.

Among the injured was a 16-year-old in critical condition.

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After meeting with Clinton, Arafat's next stop is U.N.
November 9, 2000
U.S. names Mitchell to head Mideast fact-finding commission vessel
November 7, 2000
Arafat and Barak to meet with Clinton in separate peace talks, White House says
November 5, 2000
Barak says he will participate in Washington peace talks if Arafat will
November 4, 2000
Clinton hopes for meetings with Arafat, Barak
November 3, 2000
Hope remains for Mideast truce deal despite fatal Jerusalem bombing
November 2, 2000
Agreement to implement cease-fire reached, Barak's office says
November 1, 2000
Peres, Arafat will meet, try to end Mideast violence
October 31, 2000
Barak outlines path to peace; Israeli helicopters open fire
October 30, 2000

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