US envoys travelled to the Palestinian-run town of Jericho on Thursday for talks with Prime Minister Ahmed Qorie on an Israeli plan for a Gaza pullback which he said could give peace another chance.
White House officials Stephen Hadley and Elliot Abrams and Assistant Secretary of State William Burns met earlier with senior Israeli officials and were due to see Prime Minister Ariel Sharon after their talks in the West Bank with Qorie.
Political sources said Sharon hoped the latest discussions over his plan to remove soldiers and settlers from most of Gaza and some of the West Bank would wrap up understandings before his April 14 talks with President George W. Bush in Washington.
"Israel will be negotiating with the Americans over what they will get in exchange for withdrawal from Gaza and four settlements in the West Bank," said one senior political source.