Coincidentally, June 1998 is the date President Clinton set for the withdrawal of American troops from Bosnia.

First, he will set a timetable for the withdrawal of American troops.

He will also set a deadline of roughly six months for the withdrawal of all Americans, officials said.

The Israelis were reportedly prepared to set a deadline for the first withdrawal, which was to be included in an annex to the agreement on Hebron.

The resolution and debate seemed intended to force Democrats to take a stand on setting a date for the withdrawal of American troops, a divisive issue.

But Mr. Arafat did not agree, and a Jan. 20 deadline was set for the third withdrawal.

The resolution, which is not expected to be approved, also calls for a date to be set for the withdrawal of foreign troops.

This meeting would complete details of a peace settlement for Afghanistan and set a timetable for the withdrawal of Soviet forces.

A Pentagon official said no date had been set for the final withdrawal of American forces from southern Iraq.

On Capitol Hill, lawmakers are engaged in an intense debate over whether to set a timetable for the withdrawal of troops.