The exchange, administration officials say, illustrates their new willingness to prod Israel and to get involved in the minutiae of the negotiations.

People at Merrill said that exchange illustrated a healthy give-and-take between the sides.

This basic exchange illustrated, the official argued, that both sides had clear points of view but wanted to pursue a more complex set of negotiations.

But today's exchanges illustrated the continuing deadlock over how to apportion the surplus.

The exchange between the two sides, she said, illustrated why there had been such little movement since last week.

The exchange over health care illustrated the intensity of a contest that polls show is deadlocked with three weeks to go.

This exchange, though, illustrates the political difficulties of the Bush approach.

The exchange illustrated the very different tacks the two campaigns have taken.

Probably what this exchange illustrates is two drowning men thrashing about in search of a life-jacket.