Dennis Ross met Arafat yesterday

US Middle East peace process coordinator Dennis Ross met in his tour of the Middle East with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat in Gaza following Palestinian - Israeli negotiations which resulted in nothing concerning the stumbled Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank.

Ross said he intends to hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, as reports said that Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat asked the U.S help to reach a settlement.