Contrary to news media reports from the Middle East, there is no proposal by US President Bill Clinton to revive peace talks, White House spokeswoman Mary Ellen Countryman said Saturday.
The comments come amid news media reports from Cairo and Tel Aviv that senior Israeli and Palestinian negotiators have been discussing a Clinton proposal on peace talks.
"There is no American proposal," Countryman said.
Clinton, whose term expires on January 20, is known to want to broker a peace deal before then, while Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Ehud Barak faces elections in February.
In Jericho, on the West Bank, senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat said the Palestinians want a summit with Israel and the United States to reach an accord on the final status of the Palestinian territories.
Commenting on Erakat's statement, Countryman said that Clinton "has made it clear that the United States is ready to do whatever it can to facilitate a resumption of talks." -- WASHINGTON (AFP)
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