Unsuccessful Envoy Heading Back to U.S.

U.S. mediator Dennis B. Ross was leaving the Middle East without making much headway in peacemaking between Israel and the Palestinians. Ross met with senior Palestinian and Israeli negotiators in an effort to end what the Palestinian Authority called an unprecedented crisis in the peace process. A source close to the negotiations said before the session that the discussions were likely to focus on the transfer of an additional 6% of West Bank land to the Palestinians under an interim peace deal. Israel Radio said after the meeting that no breakthrough was achieved. “It’s a difficult process,” State Department spokesman James B. Foley said. “We don’t particularly see a crisis, but it is hard going.” Foley said it was not clear what steps the administration might take next.