Netanyahu Sincere About Peace Offering, Says Albright

Though concerned about delay, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright still expressed confidence Tuesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to reach an agreement with Yasser Arafat’s Palestinian Authority.

Albright told reporters she had talked to Netanyahu on the telephone and was convinced “the prime minister wants results,” although the Clinton administration believes “time is kind of petering out here.”

“Time is really not on the side of those who want to move, who want there to be results,” Albright said. “And I am particularly concerned about the fact that the time seems to be dragging out a little bit more than I would have liked.”

Albright had hoped to convene negotiations in Washington this week between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

Foreign Minister David Levy and Arafat deputy Mahmoud Abbas were to take up a delayed Israeli pullback on the West Bank and a U.S. call for a freeze in Israel’s buildup of settlements and possibly deal with the future of Jerusalem and other bedrock issues.

However, Levy has insisted on a clear mandate from his government. The deliberations have moved slowly. The Cabinet is to meet today.

Albright said she had talked to Netanyahu “about the necessity of moving this process forward and trying to make sure that we’re able to proceed on a fairly rapid schedule here.”

“I do think the prime minister wants results,” she said.

Earlier, Israeli Ambassador Eliahu Ben-Elissar urged the administration to be patient as his government tried to forge a position for talks with the Palestinians on security and other tough issues.