Israeli and American delegates to preparatory peace talks in Cairo called by President Sadat arrived on Tuesday (13 December) even though other Arab countries will not be attending. But there have been other diplomatic moves, and as a Palestinian delegation arrived on the Suez Canal to express support for President Sadat's peace initiative, it was announced in Washington that there are going to be talks this Friday (16 December) between President Carter and Israeli Prime Minister Menachim Begin. The two leaders will be discussing Middle East developments....and are meeting in Washington at Mr Begin's own request.

SYNOPSIS: Meanwhile, the Israeli delegation led by Eliahu Ben Elissar, have been settling in Cairo....they had arrived aboard an Israeli airliner bearing the world 'peace' in Hebrew and Arabic... And when the American arrived at Mena House Hotel, where the talks are to be held, there were some encouraging words from the chief American negotiator Alfred Atherton. He was accosted by dozens of newsmen who wanted to know if there was anything new he could tell them. He could do better than that, he said, amid laughter from waiting journalists, and he outlined his position in the talks about to start in the 19th century hotel.

But there was one last minute hitch as the Israeli delegation arrived at Mena House Hotel. The was about how to describe one of the empty seats at the conference table....did it belong to the Palestinians or the Palestinian Liberation Organisation? President Sadat's officials, and the Israelis were both agreed on one point....that could be solved without any major problem.