Under increasing pressure from the international community, including the US, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is looking for a face-saving end to the siege of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.
As the Palestinian leader was enduring his ninth day under siege in his Ramallah office, the Israeli premier dispatched his chief of staff Mr Dov Weisglass to Washington in an attempt to bring an end to the stand-off which has dented Israel's reputation internationally.
Although the original goal of the siege of Arafat's compound was to "isolate" the veteran leader following back-to-back suicide bombings inside Israel, Mr Sharon appears to have isolated himself, even losing the support of the US.
Israel has demanded the surrender of some 20 wanted men holed up inside the crumbling office with Mr Arafat, but the 73-year-old leader has categorically refused to give anyone up, buoyed by renewed popular support as the Palestinians mark the second anniversary of the intifada.
Mr Weisglass was scheduled to hold talks with US National Security Adviser Ms Condoleezza Rice and return to Israel tomorrow morning to brief Mr Sharon on his talks before the premier flies to Moscow for a three-day visit.
AFP