In a speech prepared for the UN Millennium Summit, Israeli Premier Ehud Barak for the first time on Wednesday recognized that Jerusalem is sacred to Palestinian Muslims.
"We recognize that Jerusalem is also sacred to Muslims and Christians the world over, and cherished by our Palestinian neighbors,” the speech read.
Barak was scheduled to speak towards the end of the first plenary session of the summit, on Wednesday morning.
"A true peace will reflect all these bonds. Jerusalem will remain united and open to all who love her," ran the text of his speech, made available by a member of the Israeli delegation.
ISRAELI RADIO: ARAFAT, BARAK BUMP INTO EACH OTHER AT UN
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat met by chance Wednesday in the corridors of the UN headquarters in New York during the millennium summit, Israeli radio reported.
The two leaders, who have not yet agreed to a formal meeting, spoke for several minutes "to try to find solutions in the peace process," the radio said.
But it said that they did not have time to go into details, particularly on Jerusalem, the central issue standing in the way of a peace accord.
US President Bill Clinton is due to hold separate meetings with Barak and Arafat in a bid to overcome the deadlock with a September 13 deadline for a peace deal -- (AFP)
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