"Negotiations are the only route" to a better future Albright said   VIDEO CNN's Jerrold Kessel looks at the sticking points of the Mideast peace plan (September 2). Windows Media 28K 80K MESSAGE BOARD: Mideast peace

September 2, 1999
Web posted at: 9:25 p.m. EDT (0125 GMT)

In this story: Other sticking points resolved Arafat stands by for deal RELATED STORIES, SITES

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt (CNN) -- Israeli and Palestinian negotiators failed to agree Thursday on a new plan to implement the Wye River land-for-security deal, as negotiations foundered over the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.

Amr Moussa, Egypt's foreign minister, said the pact "could be signed within hours or within days." U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said it was promising that Israel and the Palestinians were continuing to talk, but she said they must come to an agreement on their own.

"We know that the road to true peace remains hard and uphill, but I'm convinced the vast majority of Arabs and Israelis alike have come to understand that negotiations are the only route to the better future that they both seek," Albright said.

Although U.S. envoy Dennis Ross came to Egypt ahead of Albright in an attempt to break the deadlock, Albright said, "Everyone with a stake in peace must do their part."

But it appeared unlikely negotiators would be able to leap the final hurdle standing in the way of an agreement on how to implement the pact, originally signed in October 1998.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa remained hopeful a deal could still be signed soon   RELATED AUDIO: Moussa speaks 408K/23 sec. AIFF or WAV sound

The release of Palestinian prisoners is apparently the last obstacle to an agreement on how to implement the U.S.- brokered accord. Talks between the Israeli and Palestinian negotiators broke off Wednesday night, with the Israelis offering to release about 350 prisoners. The Palestinians say they can accept no fewer than 400.

The prisoners who the two sides don't agree on are apparently Palestinians involved in the killing of Israelis -- a type of prisoner Israel will not release.

The negotiators have reached compromises on other issues, such as a timetable for more Israeli troops to withdraw from the West Bank and a September 2000 deadline for a permanent peace accord. Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was in Egypt on Thursday, but Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak remained in Jerusalem -- and his office said there were no plans for him to go to Alexandria.

"He is not going to negotiate. The negotiation is over," Israeli Cabinet minister Haim Ramon said. "The opposing points are very clear. We are waiting on what is the Palestinian answer."

	. . . . News: Wye River Memorandum Background: Mideast Timeline The West Bank in Brief Key Players Maps: Middle East Israel Land-for-peace deal Interactive: Message board

But Saeb Erakat, the senior Palestinian negotiator, said it was up to Israel to pick up the phone.

"They are escalating the situation at the final moment for no reason," Erakat said. "We reject this way of dealing with us."

Erakat said there was agreement on every other issue, including a timetable for an Israeli withdrawal from at least 13 percent of the West Bank and a deadline for a final status agreement.

Arafat arrived in Alexandria, and U.S. and European Union envoys flew in to Cairo amid the uncertain prospects for the signing, officials said Thursday. They said Arafat arrived Wednesday night in Alexandria after he cut short a visit to the Netherlands.

Ross and Miguel Moratinos of the European Union flew to Cairo separately late on Wednesday.

A failure of the talks will be a setback for Barak, who is trying to resolve the loose ends of the Wye accord and resume peace talks with Syria. But Israeli political analyst Chemi Shalev told CNN that Barak's leeway is limited.

"The issue of releasing Palestinian prisoners is very unpopular in Israel, and if he goes too far, he'll suffer more than by his failure to reach an agreement," Shalev said.

Jerusalem Bureau Chief Walter Rodgers and Correspondent Jerrold Kessel contributed to this report.

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