Midway through a week of new negotiations, Israel and the Palestinian Authority are not within range of a breakthrough, but the addition of two more Palestinian negotiators could eventually pay off.
The Palestinian delegation is expanding to add technical specialists to deal with Israeli negotiators on Palestinian demands for an airport and seaport, a corridor between Gaza and the West Bank that would slice thorough Israel, and an industrial zone in Gaza.So far, though, Palestinian negotiators and U.S. mediators say there has been no substantial progress on any of the issues on the table. Israel, meanwhile, is placing its focus on security, insisting Yasser Arafat can do more to rout out terrorists on land under his control.
The Palestinians are pushing primarily for a deep Israeli pullback on the West Bank and a freeze on construction of settlements there. But Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Tuesday there was no progress. He called the two demands "the main indicators where we are headed."
Erekat spoke during a break in meetings with U.S. mediator Dennis Ross at a government office building in suburban Virginia. The talks were shifted there to keep cameras and reporters at arm's length.
The Palestinians have the backing of the Clinton administration in insisting on another Israeli pullback and a freeze on settlement buildups.
The sessions Tuesday were marked by expressions of concern by Israel that its security required more cooperation from the Palestinian Authority in moving against terrorists.
A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said no marked progress occurred on the second day of negotiations.
State Department spokesman James P. Rubin said, meanwhile, that Arafat was "working very hard" to shield Israel from terrorist attack.