Peace Envoy Ross’ Mideast Trip in Doubt
U.S. peace mediator Dennis B. Ross delayed a trip to the Middle East by at least one day Tuesday, and a Voice of Palestine radio broadcast said the trip has been canceled.
Ross had planned to leave Washington on Tuesday, but a State Department official said the United States, Israel and the Palestinians agreed to put off Ross’ meetings.
“The new objective is . . . to get a new buoy or anchor that states what we have achieved,” the official said. “The thinking is, ‘Let’s get something that can serve as a benchmark, as a starting point for the next administration.’ ”
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright told a briefing Tuesday that the United States was going to keep working on a peace agreement. But she said, “We have to be realistic.”
Later, the broadcast reported that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and President Clinton had “agreed to continue consultations and that Ross’ trip was canceled.” There was no immediate confirmation.
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