A key element of the accord completed tonight is the Feb. 15 target date for a framework - something like a declaration of principles - for the final-status agreement.

The Council would remain in power until May 1999, when a final-status agreement is supposed to be ready.

An international peace conference would then oversee the negotiations between the parties on a detailed final-status agreement.

An agreement at Camp David might well have been considered the final-status agreement.

The Israeli government believes that Modi'in Illit would remain within Israeli jurisdiction in a final-status agreement with the Palestinians.

As new Palestinian institutions and new leaders emerge, demonstrating real performance on security and reform, I expect Israel to respond and work toward a final-status agreement.

Were they to seek a framework accord for an inclusive final-status agreement, or simply to pursue technical talks on a range of issues while building toward a statement of intent to continue after the elections?

And it might not bring us to a final-status agreement, but it will reduce the tensions.

In today's interview, he noted that there were many skeptics about a final-status agreement, because Israelis' maximum concessions appeared to be far below Palestinians' minimum demands.

The draft guidelines call for accelerating negotiations with the Palestinians and submitting a final-status agreement to a national referendum.