USA: OFFICIALS PLEAD ISRAEL & PALESTINIAN LEADERS TO RENEW TALKS

(7 Apr 1997) English/Nat U.S. officials pleaded Sunday for Israeli and Palestinian leaders to shed their hard-line stances and renew face-to-face consultations as President Bill Clinton prepared to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat insists building must stop on an Israeli housing project in east Jerusalem before long-standing disagreements can be resolved and peace talks can resume. Netanyahu pressed his case Sunday with his closest friend among Arab leaders, King Hussein of Jordan, who was recovering from prostate surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. It was U-S Ambassador to the U-N Bill Richardson who defended the U-S decision to support Israel's move while still calling on the Israelis to resolve their differences with the Palestinians. Richardson sent the message Sunday at the 39th Conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the nation's pro-Israel lobby. SOUNDBITE: "That doesn't mean that we endorsed the Israeli decision that precipitated this reaction. We would have preferred it not been taken, but the peace process belongs with the parties of the region and not at the U-N." SUPER CAPTION: Bill Richardson, U-S Ambassador to the U-N Richardson said the U-S was concerned at the significant and rapid decline in the confidence that the Palestinians and the Israeli government have in each other and, to some extent, in the peace process itself. SOUNDBITE: "The United States remains committed to secure a just, lasting and comprehensive peace between Israel and her neighbours. But in the end the success of the process depends on the willingness of the Palestinians and the Israelis to work together as negotiating partners. SUPER CAPTION: Bill Richardson, U-S Ambassador to the U-N Netanyahu was scheduled to make an appearance before the U.S. Jewish lobby group on Monday after meeting with Clinton, members of Congress and Jewish leaders, including a delegation of four Conservative and four Reform rabbis. With the peace process stalled since last month amid increasing violence in the Middle East, U.S. officials have suggested it may take another Camp David-like negotiating session to force both sides to resolve their differences in a private setting. But some prominent Israelis see the process in danger. SOUNDBITE: "He is in my view sailing very close to the wind and faces the danger of violent reaction which his tacit approval has allegedly been given to, which could eventually prove to be counterproductive and destroy the Palestinian dream which is in the process of being realised by the Palestinian authority. SUPER CAPTION: Chaim Herzog, former president of Israel But first, Clinton, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and U.S. diplomats were meeting with both sides to find possible compromises. Neither the Israelis nor the Palestinians appeared ready to budge. SOUNDBITE: "I believe that the peace process is irreversible. We will have our ups and downs, we will have many conflicts but both peoples realise today that there is no alternative. SUPER CAPTION: Chaim Herzog, former president of Israel Arafat, who went over the weekend to a meeting of the non-aligned Movement of developing nations in New Delhi, India, sent Clinton a letter saying any U.S. initiative must include a pledge by Israel to stop construction on disputed land - especially the Jewish Har Homa project in east Jerusalem, which the Palestinians claim as a future capital. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...