He called for an end to superpower rivalry so that there could be a collective, international effort to bring Arabs and Israelis to a "historic compromise."

From a cloudless sky came a warm downpour that turned the dust to mud and brought Israelis running from their homes.

Another was George Bush, who exploited the end of the cold war and victory in the Persian Gulf to bring Arabs and Israelis to the bargaining table.

The United States has, in fact, long sought to bring Israelis and Palestinians together to bargain for peace.

The Clinton Administration has "set in motion a mechanism that would bring the Palestinians and Israelis back to the table at an early time," Mr. Christopher said.

The conference, after the Persian Gulf war, brought Arabs and Israelis together in direct talks.

The German organization Action Reconciliation (Aktion Sühnezeichen) has played a role in bringing Germans and Israelis together.

After three years of impasse, this would bring Israelis, Egyptians, Palestinians and Jordanians together again at official level.

Students and faculty would be required to spend time at one another's campuses, bringing Israelis and Arabs, Christians and Muslims, into scholarly and social contact.

And no effort to bring Israelis and Palestinians together in any room - ornate or not.