US urges Israel, Palestinians to strive for compromise

WASHINGTON, Jan 21: President Bill Clinton urged Israel and the Palestinians to strive for compromise in Middle East peace negotiations at a meeting here with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, reports AFP.

Clinton and Arafat met for nearly one hour at the White House Wednesday after the Palestinian leader had discussed Middle East peace in the morning and over lunch with Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

Ahead of the meeting, Clinton said peace could come to the Middle East by the end of the year.

"As in any process like this, there must be inevitable and difficult compromises," he said.

"No one can get everything that either side wants. But I'm convinced we can get there and I'm convinced that Chairman Arafat is proceeding in great good faith, and so I'm glad to see him."

Asked if he was thought a comprehensive peace could take root by year-end, he said: "The issues are clear. Even if they're difficult, they're clear.

"And I certainly think we could have it and I'm going to do everything I can every day I've got to try to achieve it," he added.

After the meeting, Arafat said all aspects of the peace process had been discussed in a "fruitful, productive, important, meeting."

"I gave the president a full briefing on the interim and final negotiations including on my last meeting with Prime Minister Barak in the last 48 hours," Arafat said.

Arafat said he had asked Clinton for his "personal intervention" in the talks which a reaching a crucial phase.

Under last year's Sharm-el-Sheikh accord, a permanent peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians is to be worked out by September while a framework agreement is scheduled for February 13.

Arafat arrived in Washington amid Palestinian anger over Barak's decision to delay a further West Bank troop withdrawal scheduled for Thursday under the accord.

However, just before his meeting with the president, Arafat said Barak had promised to complete the withdrawal within two weeks.

"First of all, a few days ago we did receive the five percent of the territories according to the Sharm-el-Sheikh agreement," he said

"And within two weeks, we will receive the six percent. And this is something that Prime Minister Barak and I agreed to 24 hours -- 48 hours before arriving in the United States."

Much remains to be done, however. As far as negotiating the framework agreement, the two sides remain far apart on its core, the so-called "final status issues" which include the future of Jerusalem, Palestinian refugees, borders and Jewish settlements.

Earlier Albright had cautioned Arafat to be flexible and not to expect to receive 100 per cent of his demands.