The festive signing of the new Israeli-Palestinian peace treaty, designed to inject fresh confidence and goodwill into long-strained relations, was delayed yesterday and is not even certain to take place today - because of relentless end-game haggling between the two sides over how many Palestinian prisoners are to be released.
Three of the four key players converged on Alexandria yesterday, in readiness for the much-anticipated ceremony. But with Israel's Prime Minister, Mr Ehud Barak, a conspicuous absentee, there was nothing for Egypt's President Mubarak, US Secretary of State, Ms Madeleine Albright, and the Palestinian Authority President, Mr Yasser Arafat to do except issue vague expressions of hope for a swift and successful conclusion of negotiations.
At a press conference with Ms Albright yesterday evening, the Egyptian Foreign Minister, Mr Amr Moussa, was reduced to murmuring that "it is possible that such an agreement will be signed within hours . . . or within days". Mr Barak was adamant that he would not fly to Egypt until every last detail of the new accord was pinned down, and was determined not to be sucked into further rounds of negotiation under pressure from Ms Albright and Mr Mubarak.
Although the Israeli prime minister is committed to reviving Israeli-Palestinian relations, after three years of stagnation under his predecessor, Mr Benjamin Netanyahu, he is clearly not prepared to make the one final concession that was still blocking the deal last night: agreeing to free Palestinians who have killed Israelis.
Mr Barak has offered to release 356 Palestinian "security prisoners". Mr Arafat is demanding 400. The 44 in dispute would include those convicted of murder, and Mr Barak has neither the personal inclination, nor the coalition or public support, to approve their releases.
If the Palestinians do not back down, Mr Barak repeated yesterday, he will simply implement the last existing peace accord - the Wye River deal, stalled by Mr Netanyahu - which offers vaguer definitions of the prisoners to be released, and would enable Mr Barak to include common criminals among those freed.
AFP reports: Ms Albright flew into Tel Aviv from Egypt late last night and was due to head straight into talks with Israeli Prime Minister, Mr Barak, officials said.
"We do not have many issues left. We are in a position where we see serious efforts by both sides to resolve the issues," said a US official travelling with Ms Albright on the plane.
Israel's former foreign minister Mr Ariel Sharon was voted leader of the right-wing opposition Likud party in internal elections yesterday, according to unofficial results.
Mr Sharon (71) won more than 50 per cent of the vote, heading off his younger rivals, Jerusalem mayor Mr Ehud Olmert and former finance minister Mr Meir Sheetrit, a party official said.