These are very, very difficult issues. I've heard about a lot of tensions between the parties. There are tensions every day when you're working through these issues.

I wouldn't use that phrase. Obviously, there are very difficult issues in front of them, but the parties are continuing to work at them.

This is an ongoing process. The issues are difficult and complex and the president feels it's important to bring the leaders together.

We have heard reports of atrocities, and we have clear examples of ethnic cleansing.

Given the importance of the issues at hand, the president and Prime Minister Netanyahu and Chairman Arafat believe it is appropriate to stay and work on these important issues.

There's some fundamental issues of fairness about how the president and his legal team can prepare for the next phase of this process. We also understand the arithmetic of the Senate, which is there's 55 Republicans and 45 Democrats, so ultimately the Republicans can do what they feel is best, even if it's not fair to the president,