Hopes fade for Mideast agreement before Clinton leaves White House

In this story: Political changes loom Sharon rejects Clinton and Oslo Palestinians execute 2 RELATED STORIES, SITES

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israeli and Palestinian officials will continue to talk this week, but hopes have faded for a breakthrough agreement before President Clinton leaves office, a top Palestinian negotiator said Sunday.

In a separate development, a Jewish settler was reported missing in Gaza, Israeli army officials and the Council of Settlers said Sunday. Israeli media reported that the settler's car was tracked -- through a transmitter -- to an area controlled by Palestinians.

VIDEO CNN's Jerrold Kessel reports there is no agreement yet on peace as Barak faces election showdown (January 14) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) Despite high level talks, violence continues in the streets. CNN's Jerrold Kessel reports (January 12) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) CNN's Matthew Chance shows how the closures affect Palestinians (January 12) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)     AUDIO Agreement before Clinton leaves Whitehouse unlikely explains Correspondent Matthew Chance 350K/32 sec. AIFF or WAV sound Saeb Erakat, Chief Palestinian Negotiator: "A chicken and the egg situation." 230K/21 sec. AIFF or WAV sound    TIMELINES Recent acts of violence in the Middle East:  •  Bombings  •  Activist deaths    RESOURCES Key points of U.S. peace proposals    RESOURCES In-Depth: Israel Election 2001   MESSAGE BOARD Mideast peace

And the political picture grew more complicated in Israel when Health Minister Roni Milo announced his resignation, telling Israeli radio he did not want to be part of a peace process that would give control of holy sites, including the Temple Mount, to the Palestinians, who revere it as Haram al-Sharif.

"I don't expect any breakthrough between now and January 20, or for that matter February 6," said Saeb Erakat, the chief Palestinian negotiator, in an interview with CNN. "But both sides have realized that the most important thing for both of them is ... this peace process must continue. And it should not collapse."

January 20 is the date Clinton leaves office, and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak faces an election on February 6.

Disputing some reports, Erakat said there were no plans for Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat and former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres to meet again following face-to-face discussions Saturday.

"There is nothing scheduled for a meeting between President Arafat and Mr. Peres," Erakat said, adding that "maybe tomorrow" negotiators would meet.

Peres and Arafat met Saturday night in Gaza City, but wide gaps remain on the questions of Palestinian refugees, land and the status of Jerusalem, sources said.

"I think it's very, very doubtful there would be any kind of final status agreement in the time remaining," Samuel Berger, Clinton's national security adviser, said on CNN's "Late Edition." "But I do think we should use all of the momentum that exists now to try to bring the parties as close together as possible."

Barak is facing a strong challenge from right-wing leader Ariel Sharon, who has a 20-point lead, according to some Israeli public opinion polls.

Despite the dim outlook for a breakthrough, Erakat struck a positive note and saluted Clinton for his efforts to secure a peace deal in the Middle East.

"We have left no stone unturned, and we have come a long way," Erakat said. "And we, as Palestinians, appreciate very much the efforts that are exerted and were exerted by President Clinton."

In the search for the missing settler, Israeli media reported that army helicopters were surveying the area and firing observation flares, hoping to locate the man, identified as Roni Tsalah. He comes from the settlement of Kfar Yam, which is within the larger settlement block of Gush Khatif.

More than 3 1/2 months after the Israeli-Palestinian violence began, at least 392 people have been killed. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society says that 336 of them were Palestinians, and the Israel Defense Forces says that 43 were Israeli Jews and 13 Israeli Arabs. Both sides blame each other for the fighting.

According to Reuters, Israel promised on Sunday to investigate the treatment of a suspected Palestinian gunman whose body was filmed being dragged by soldiers through the West Bank city of Hebron.

The case of 22-year-old Shaker Hassouni was portrayed by Palestinian officials and media as proof that Israeli soldiers hold contempt for Palestinian lives. Palestinians confirmed that Hassouni was a militant but denied he was armed when killed.

High-level Israeli and Palestinian peace talks are focusing now on finding some kind of format to guide any negotiations in the uncertain future, both sides said Sunday.

"I doubt very much that any agreement can be reached before January 20 or February 6th because the agenda here is not the transfer of the American administration and not the Israeli election," Erakat said. "The agenda for us is the peace process and what it takes to make peace."

Government spokesman Danny Seaman had said the purpose of the Arafat-Peres meeting was to try to come up with some format "with agreed-upon principles for continuation of negotiations."

The two sides appear to be working for a joint document listing points of agreement and points of contention, which could be used as a basis for future talks on Israeli-Palestinian peace under the incoming administration of U.S. President-elect George W. Bush.

Peres spoke over the weekend of finding a way to hang on to progress made under Clinton, so that all accomplished so far is not "for nothing."

Sharon opposes what he says are far-reaching territorial concessions being considered by Barak, leader of Israel's Labor Party.

Clinton's proposals would allow the Palestinians to form a state in all of Gaza and almost all of the West Bank, including Arab areas and key Christian and Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem.

As part of the proposal, the Israelis would give up control over a major disputed holy site in Jerusalem; in return, the Palestinians would have to give up their key demand that refugees displaced in Mideast wars -- and their descendants -- be allowed to return to what is now Israel. Both sides appear reluctant to make that trade-off, and officials' public commentary on those difficult issues has been vague and sometimes contradictory.

Security talks planned for late Sunday on joint steps to quell unrest were in question. The Israeli military closed a stretch of the main north-south road through Gaza early Sunday after what it said was weekend shooting toward Jewish settlements.

Israel started lifting its blockade of Gaza and the West Bank last week under a plan to ease tension brokered by CIA Director George Tenet. The blockade kept Palestinians from entering Israel and limited their movement within Gaza.

Sharon says he will seek peace with the Palestinians but not on the basis of either Clinton's ideas or the 1993 Oslo accords.

As defense minister in 1982, Sharon spearheaded Israel's invasion of Lebanon, and as a Cabinet minister in later years he led a campaign to boost Jewish settlement of occupied lands.

Barak's campaign said its surveys showed Barak had narrowed the gap with Sharon but was still plagued by a split in the peace camp on whether to back him or Labor Party rival Peres.

Meanwhile, Israel is sharply criticizing the Palestinian Authority's execution of two Palestinians convicted of collaborating with Israel. Israel says there is a lack of due process and that human rights were violated.

The men were put before firing squads in Nablus and Gaza City on Saturday. They were found guilty of assisting Israel in what the Palestinians call the assassination of Intifada activists.

Israeli TV aired amateur video of what it claimed was the execution of Majdi Makawi in Gaza City. A man purported to be Makawi is shown bound to a stake and hooded as he faces a nine-member Palestinian police squad. Cheers erupt after several volleys of gunfire.

Arafat ratified the death sentences following quick trials.

Palestinian authorities say they will carry out more trials -- and more executions -- of those whom they say are Israeli collaborators.

The Associated Press & Reuters contributed to this report.

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January 12, 2001
Israelis, Palestinians conclude high-level talks
January 11, 2001
Ross reschedules Mideast trip as time to seal accord slips away
January 10, 2001
Clinton envoy makes one last try at Middle East peace agreement
January 8, 2001
Clinton to send special envoy back to Mideast
January 7, 2001
Clock running down for Clinton's hopes for Mideast deal
January 6, 2001
Israeli negotiator: 'We are waiting for the president now'
January 5, 2001
Israeli envoy to present written reaction to peace proposal
January 4, 2001
Arafat meets Mubarak, will consult Arab ministers on U.S. peace proposals
January 3, 2001
Arafat concludes second meeting with Clinton
January 2, 2001
Clinton and Arafat to meet Tuesday to discuss framework for peace
January 1, 2001

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