Syria remains critical of the contacts between the Israelis and their Palestinian and Jordanian counterparts.

The country's foreign minister, Farouk al-Sharaa, flew to Cairo for consultations along with his Jordanian counterpart, Marwan Muasher.

In past rounds, Palestinian delegates have usually crossed the bridge, teamed up in Amman with their Jordanian counterparts, then flown on to Washington as the single group they technically are during the talks.

Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi also suggested holding a summit meeting in a telephone conversation with his Jordanian counterpart, Marwan Muasher, on Wednesday.

In the first three months of the Barak Government, Mr. Daley said, Israeli trade officials have demonstrated a new willingness to work with Palestinian and Jordanian counterparts.

At a joint news conference with Marwan Muasher, his Jordanian counterpart, Mr. Powell went further than in the past to offer American apologies for the abuse.

The Palestinian negotiating team had been scheduled to leave today for Amman, where they were to follow their pattern of conferring with their Jordanian counterparts before heading to Washington as a joint delegation.

After another bitter and futile day of talks, Israeli negotiators told their Syrian, Lebanese, Palestinian and Jordanian counterparts that they planned to leave Thursday afternoon.

- Co-organizer of the foundation conference of the Middle East Abrahamic Forum (with Egyptian, Jordanian and Palestinian counterparts).

The reliance of US intelligence on its Jordanian counterpart was forged in part by both countries' aversion to Islamic radicalism.