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No Mideast breakthrough
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ISRAELI and Palestinian peace negotiators met yesterday, but there appeared to be little prospect of a Middle East breakthrough as USPresident Bill Clinton's eight-year mandate approached its end.
Despite Egypt's efforts to inject momentum into stalled peace talks by arranging a meeting between Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and Israeli Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami, the mood was downbeat on any prospect for an impending deal.
Polls predict right-wing Likud leader Ariel Sharon willtrounce Prime Minister Ehud Barak and take Israel's helm. Senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat described the prospect as "a recipe for war and disaster".
No breakthrough was expected from the meeting between Arafat and Ben-Amt in Cairo on Wednesday night. Israel Radio said Ben-Ami described the talks as "deep and detailed".
The meeting went ahead despite the killing of an Arafat associate, Palestinian television head Hisham Mikki, who was shot dead by hooded gunmen in the Gaza Strip.
The Palestinian leadership blamed Israeli "collaborators". Israel denied any link to the killing.
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