ARABS-ISRAEL - Nov. 7 - Blair Sees Breakthrough In ME Conflict.

Visiting Washington, British PM Tony Blair tells US Pres. Bush there is a chance of breaking the deadlock in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, despite deepening violence and bitter rhetoric between the two sides. He says there are "things discussed privately" with leaders including PM Sharon and Arafat, adding: "The seeds were sown which I hope can bear fruit in the future". (The US and UK governments agreed that moves to revive the peace process were crucial to shoring up support among Arab and Muslim states for the military action in Afghanistan. Blair visits Washington to brief Pres. Bush on the results of his last week visit to the Middle East). Bush says US Secretary of State Powell is spending an "enormous amount of time urging the Israelis and Palestinians to be calm and get into the peace process". People close to Blair say the new initiative would have to go beyond the existing peace plan drawn up by Senator George Mitchell. But it is expected to avoid prescriptions on the status of Jerusalem and Palestinian refugees.