There are high expectations here for a re-energised and more productive era in US-Israeli relations with the arrival of the Israeli Prime Minister, Mr Ehud Barak, for his first visit since taking power.
President Clinton welcomed Mr Barak to the White House yesterday afternoon, promising that "America will walk with you" in the search for peace.
Mr Barak said Israel would live up to all agreements, including last year's Wye accord promising Israel security in return for the release of land to the Palestinians.
But he said he wanted to pursue agreements with Syria and Lebanon, and added that he was prepared to meet the Syrian President, Mr Hafez Assad. "It takes two to tango. I am ready," Mr Barak said.
Asked if Israel would tear down settlements that have outraged Palestinians, Mr Barak said: "I'm not going to build new ones; I'm not going to dismantle any one of them. The overall picture will be settled once we end the permanent status negotiations."
Both Mr Clinton and Mr Barak spoke optimistically about moving the peace process forward.
After three difficult years dealing with Mr Barak's predecessor, Mr Benjamin Netanyahu, President Clinton is openly enthusiastic about the prospects of a comprehensive Mid-East settlement before he leaves office in January 2001.
"I'm eager as a kid with a new toy," Mr Clinton said in anticipation of meeting Mr Barak over several days, including a session in the secluded Camp David. "I hope that we can begin to energise the peace process in the Middle East on terms that are just and fair and will guarantee genuine security for Israel and a way of living for the Palestinians," Mr Clinton said.
US officials are encouraged by Mr Barak's statement that he wants to complete a peace settlement with Syria as well as with the Palestinians. The prospect of having President Assad and Mr Barak shaking hands on the White House lawn with President Clinton presiding is not seen as totally far-fetched.
But the emphasis in this week's meetings will be on efforts to jump-start the stalled Wye River accord of last Autumn when Mr Netanyahu and the Palestinian leader, Mr Yasser Arafat, under strong US pressure, agreed a timetable for further Israeli handovers of occupied territories in exchange for strengthened security and a change in the Palestinian charter. Mr Netanyahu's right-wing government later froze the agreement.
Mr Barak has now indicated that he wants a reduced US role in Israeli-Palestinian relations saying he prefers the US to scale back its role as "policeman and judge". For example, he is not happy with the extent of the involvement of the CIA, the US intelligence agency, in monitoring security arrangements in the Gaza Strip.
The US is ready to take a lower profile, according to officials here, but not too low.
President Clinton yesterday had a three-hour meeting in the residence of the White House with Mr Barak without aides present. Later the two leaders and their wives helicoptered to Camp David, the Presidential retreat outside Washington, for a small dinner.
On Sunday night there will be a formal dinner at the White House for the Israeli leader to which 400 persons have been invited.
This is more lavish treatment than Mr Netanyahu used to receive and is meant to indicate that the US-Israeli relationship is back on a new and more open footing.
Reuters adds:
Meanwhile in Helsinki, Mr Arafat yesterday urged the Finnish President, Mr Martti Ahtisaari, to get involved in reviving Arab-Israeli peacemaking on behalf of the EU. Mr Arafat told an education conference in Helsinki that Mr Ahtisaari's success in brokering a Kosovo peace deal between NATO and Yugoslavia last month made him suitable for a mediation role in the Middle East.