U.S. officials consider Middle East conference

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. officials are considering the possibility of a Middle East "peace conference" that would involve foreign ministers representing Israel and leading Arab nations, sidestepping Israeli refusals to negotiate with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

Such a conference, Bush administration officials here cautioned Monday, was among many options being discussed by Secretary of State Colin Powell during his travels in the region, and was far from a certainty.

Even the name, they said, was not guaranteed. A "peace conference," they said, might raise expectations too high. A "regional conference" might be a better term to describe what could take place, said officials, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Such a conference -- whatever it was called -- would be best if organized by countries in the region, one Bush administration official said.

Powell has confronted "more than considerable" pressure from Arab leaders to demonstrate that the United States is pushing for a political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and not just emphasizing a reduction in the violence and a cease-fire, the official said.

This push reflects Arab concerns related to how Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon might negotiate with the Palestinian Authority, the official said.

Arab leaders worry that Sharon might refuse to deal with the authority as long Arafat is its leader, the official said.

The Arab leaders also worry Sharon might agree to a cease-fire but would then want a security "buffer zone." They fear he would maintain economic restrictions on the Palestinian Authority and Palestinians while refusing to enter into a formal peace process whose ultimate goal would be the creation of an independent Palestinian state, said officials.

Conference crucial

Two administration officials in Washington said Powell and other senior administrators believe it is critical to bring moderate Arab nations along with the United States and other international forces. By agreeing to some form of conference, they said, the United States could keep pressure on these Arab nations to help U.S. diplomatic efforts to achieve a cease-fire.

While Sharon has said he is open to discussions with other Arab nations, he has labeled Arafat a terrorist and has said he will not negotiate with him.

Among the items under discussion, officials said, is the possibility of convening a meeting or conference among Powell and his counterparts at the foreign-minister level and the Palestinians sending one of its negotiators. This would keep Sharon away from the table and would -- in the short term, at least -- temporarily take care of what one official termed "the Arafat-Sharon problem."

A senior Arab official said he was uncertain what purpose such a meeting would serve.

"It depends on the objectives of the conference," the official said. "If it is to bring these issues to closures and everyone feels that this conference should be held on the ministerial level, that is one thing. But the Israeli intentions on the ground speak volumes."

"They have been clear they do not want Arafat there, so if it is to be held with foreign ministers to circumvent Arafat's authority it won't solve the problems we face, and is a non-starter," he said.