The United States has briefed Egypt on the ideas presented by US President Bill Clinton to Palestinian and Israeli negotiators Saturday at the end of five days of talks in Washington, US Ambassador to Egypt Daniel Kurtzer said Sunday.
In separate meetings with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Foreign Minister Amr Moussa, Kurtzer summarized the results of the negotiations and Clinton's final proposals to the two sides, the ambassador told reporters.
Kurtzer said his mission was to inform Mubarak and Moussa of the details from the Washington talks.
Israel and the Palestinians will report back to Clinton by Wednesday on whether they accept the US' proposed compromises on East Jerusalem, the refugees' right of return and the future borders of a Palestinian state.
According to Israeli Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben Ami, if both sides respond positively, "the aim is to hold separate meetings between President Clinton and Ehud Barak and (Palestinian leader) Yasser Arafat to decide if we can then organize a tripartite summit."
The Israeli and Palestinian leadership have both expressed a wish to complete a peace agreement before Clinton steps out of office January 20.
Egypt was the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel in 1979, and plays the role of an intermediary between the Israelis and Palestinians -- CAIRO (AFP)
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