Mid-East Peace
Talks Update
No agreement as
yet
American officials say Palestinians and
Israelis are still hard at work at the Camp David summit, but
a comprehensive peace between the perennial enemies appeared
as elusive as ever on Wednesday.
Israeli sources said earlier that Prime
Minister Ehud Barak was prepared to leave the summit Wednesday
evening "without an agreement ... because after serious
discussions we discovered the other side did not act like real
partners for peace."
Ofir Pines, a Labor Party lawmaker and the
chairman of Barak's governing coalition, said he had been told
by delegation sources that Barak was planning to leave - and
added that he did not believe the two sides could reach an
accord.
Officials indicated that the major snag was
the final status of Jerusalem. The Palestinians want to locate
their capital in Jerusalem, while the Israelis staunchly say
the ancient city will remain solely and forever in Israeli
hands.