Israel, PLO differ on talks

JERUSALEM - The Israeli Prime Minister, Mr Benjamin Netanyahu, sounded upbeat but the Palestinian President, Mr Yasser Arafat…

JERUSALEM - The Israeli Prime Minister, Mr Benjamin Netanyahu, sounded upbeat but the Palestinian President, Mr Yasser Arafat, looked glum yesterday following a US-sponsored meeting between Israeli and PLO officials on resuming peace talks.

From the leaders' assessments, it seemed as if each side had attended a different meeting late on Wednesday, which the US peace envoy, Mr Dennis Ross, arranged at the residence of the US ambassador to Israel.

"I think yesterday's meeting was a preliminary one which creates the basis for additional rounds of talks which we will have to agree upon," Mr Netanyahu said. Later in Ramallah, in the West Bank, Mr Arafat snubbed Mr Ross by failing to turn up for a meeting because of Palestinian anger over the US position on settlements, Palestinian and US sources said.

. An Israeli soldier was killed and five wounded last night in a fierce clash with Hizbullah guerrillas in south Lebanon, pro-Israeli militia sources said.