Albright informs Palestinians of Israel's intent to present new proposals

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat revealed that US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright informed Palestinian President Yasser Arafat that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will offer the Palestinian side "new and different ideas than those which were offered before."

He said the Palestinian government is waiting to see whether these new ideas for second-phase redeployment are in line with the US initiative or not.

He added that this is what has kept Palestinian President Yasser Arafat from taking a decision till now concerning halting the current negotiations.

Erekat refused to predict whether the ideas that will be offered by the Israelis may move the two parties closer to reaching an agreement, only saying, "All I can say is that we will work on using all pressure papers we have," stating that the communications are continuous with the Israelis, and the decision of continuing or halting the negotiations may be taken by President Arafat.