Israeli Prime Minister Mr Ehud Barak called an urgent meeting of top ministers today after US President Mr Bill Clinton briefed him on talks with Palestinian President Mr Yasser Arafat, Israel Radio said.
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US President Bill Clinton |
It said Mr Barak and Mr Clinton had spoken by telephone for about 45 minutes, one day after the US president met Mr Arafat in Washington to discuss Mr Clinton's peace initiative intended to provide the basis for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.
Palestinian officials said Mr Arafat could accept the US initiative only if certain conditions were met.
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Israeli Prime Minister Mr Ehud Barak |
The radio station said Mr Barak would speak again to Mr Clinton after the meeting of top ministers to explain Israel's own reservations about Mr Clinton's proposal, made at the end of five days of Israeli-Palestinian talks last month.
Israel has conditionally accepted the ideas as a basis for continuing talks. It is awaiting a formal response from the Palestinians to decide whether peace negotiations can continue while Israeli-Palestinian fighting is still raging.
Reuters