In his first comments since meeting US President Bill Clinton in Washington, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat said Thursday that "he hopes" to reach a peace accord with Israel before Clinton leaves office on January 20.
Asked by reporters in the Gaza Strip if he hopes to reach a peace agreement during a planned 10 days of intense, US-sponsored peace talks with Israel, Arafat said: "We hope so, and we hope before the US President finishes his term as Clinton has promised to exert all of his efforts."
Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak have both conditionally agreed to parameters for a final peace accord presented by Clinton.
Arafat also agreed after meeting Clinton this week to a new 10-day intensive peace push -- GAZA CITY (AFP)
