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Blair’s Labor Tries to Kick Start Peace Process

Britain’s Labor Party is the latest overseas organization to offer help in brokering a cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinians.

Top Israeli and Palestinian officials are in London on Thursday for what they are describing as a pre-negotiation meeting.

The Palestinian team includes Yassir Arafat’s security adviser, a deputy minister and a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council.

Jerusalem has sent a top adviser to its defense minister, a senior Foreign Ministry official and three politicians, including the prime minister’s son, Omri Sharon.

The meeting comes just days before the signing of the so-called ‘Geneva Initiative’. Palestinian and Israeli doves have succeeded in gaining widespread international support for the unofficial initiative, which offers sweeping Israeli concessions.

Israeli law maintains only the government is at liberty to negotiate with enemies of the state.

Analysts say the London meeting may be an attempt to take some of the attention away from Geneva, while offering Ariel Sharon a platform to begin talks with the Palestinian Authority.