In Washington, Clinton holds talks with Arafat on final status negotiations, which the U.S. announces are set to resume after Passover ends on 4/27. The U.S. says there has not been enough progress in the Bolling sessions to meet the 5/13 FAPS target date, so all efforts will be directed toward the 9/13 deadline. At the request of both sides, the U.S. agrees to take a "more intensified role." (MM 4/20; XIN 4/20 in WNC 4/24; NYT, WP, WT 4/21; AYM 4/23 in WNC 4/26)
The UN says it may nearly double its the size of UNIFIL fr. 4,500 to 8,000 troops to prevent formation of a security vacuum in s. Lebanon following an IDF withdrawal. Secy.-Gen. Annan dispatches his special envoy Larsen to the region to coordinate plans with Israel, Lebanon, Syria. (MEI, WP 4/21)
Jordan opens the trial of 15 alleged Bin Laden associates charged with conspiring to attack Israeli, U.S. targets. (CSM, NYT, WP 4/21; MEI 5/19) (see 3/28)