On the issue of arms control in the Middle East and an Arab-Israeli settlement, Mr. Baker said his talks revealed a "consensus" that there is a "significant opportunity here."

Movement in that direction has begun, and it is only in this context that we can understand the fact that a tangible hope has emerged for an Arab-Israeli settlement.

The organization will insist on an international context for any talks with Israel to insure that a deal is part of what Mr. Khalaf calls "a comprehensive Arab-Israeli settlement."

In 1992, he headed the Russian Committee of Public Organizations on Assistance to the Arab-Israeli settlement.

Their deep disputes with Israel remain the major obstacles to any final Arab-Israeli settlement.

They dealt with issues like whether military force should be used if sanctions fail, and whether a settlement in the gulf should be linked to an Arab-Israeli settlement.

Egypt is America's closest Arab ally, and has sought to become the centerweight of moderate Arab opinion in the stalled effort to secure an Arab-Israeli settlement.

Palestinians here say these ties insure that Mr. Arafat cannot disregard Syria's views in any Arab-Israeli settlement.

President Jimmy Carter, in a 1977 interview with Feldman, hinted that efforts to promote an Arab-Israeli settlement might have to be suspended.

- still dangles the possibility of a sweeping Arab-Israeli settlement, even of a new era.