Arafat ‘accepts’ US peace plan. One more upswing on the roller-coaster-ride to hopes for Middle East peace. Arafat reserves the right for his approval to be subject to his own “interpretations and principles.” Ehud Barak, briefed on Arafat’s response, has gone on record to state his doubts that Clinton can make progress in brokering a peace before the end of his term of office. Barak called an urgent meeting of his top ministers, whose rhetoric has been increasingly confrontational. The Israeli deputy defense minister states Israel will continue its policy of assassinating Palestinian leaders involved in attacks on Israelis.