[Judy Woodruff, Cnn Anchor:] Here in Washington, the Clinton administration is closely following the developments in the Middle East. CNN's Andrea Koppel has that.
[Andrea Koppel, Cnn Correspondent:] Another apparent setback for U.S. efforts at forging a Mideast peace deal. President Clinton appealing for calm, condemning Thursday's deadly car bombing in Jerusalem.
[William J. Clinton, President Of The United States:] This morning we were reminded once again in Jerusalem that there are those who seek to destroy the peace through acts of terror. This cannot be permitted to prevail.
[Koppel:] Just Wednesday night, the Clinton administration thought a truce had been struck to end more than a month of Israeli- Palestinian clashes. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and members of the U.S. peace team worked the phones, urging both leaders to publicly announce the cease-fire they'd agreed to.
[Madeleine Albright, U.s. Secretary Of State:] And we will continue to work on it and hope that the parties, between themselves, can continue working.
[Koppel:] Hours later each side issues a written statement, but neither leader himself makes a public call to end the violence. Back in Washington, U.S. officials, their fingers crossed, hoping this cease-fire will stick.
[Albright:] What also, now, has to happen, is that we see how these commitments are fulfilled and then move to the peace process.
[Koppel:] But after so many weeks full of disappointment, the Clinton administration recognizes that this agreement, like the one signed last month in Egypt, could unravel. Making sure it doesn't will be the focus of Friday's agenda when the Palestinian's chief negotiator meets with Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and National Security Adviser Samuel Berger here in Washington. Andrea Koppel, CNN, the State Department.