It also forms the backbone of the Palestinian Authority. The Israeli-Palestinian peace drive stumbled again on Friday when the two sides staked out opposing positions over the right of return for Palestinian refugees and control over Jerusalem. Western diplomats warned of a stand-off between the Palestinians and the United States over the details of the U.S. proposals. Around the Mideast, observers, too, are skeptical that peace will be soon achieved. In Jordan, the monarchy may favor President Clinton's peace initiativest, but many of the kingdom's predominantly Palestinian subjects say his latest proposal caters only to Israel.
Arab interests are nonexistent in the American dictionary.
Clinton reportedly suggested giving the Palestinians a state in 95 percent of the West Bank and all of Gaza as well as sovereignty over a disputed holy site in Jerusalem. In exchange, the Palestinians would curtail their demand for a right of return for Palestinian refugees who fled or were driven out of Israel. A senior Palestinian negotiator says he needs more details on the U.S.peace plan before he can respond to President Clinton's invitation to formal peace talks. Arafat arrived in Tunis on Saturday night for talks with Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali on U.S. proposals. Officials said Arafat would meet Ben Ali on Sunday to discuss ideas put forward by Clinton at the close of five days of talks with Israeli and Palestinian officials in Washington.