Egyptian-Israeli talks on autonomy postponed

Resumption of the Israeli-Egyptian talks on Palestinian autonomy has been postponed for several days, US officials said Monday. The deadlocked talks had been scheduled to reopen in Cairo on Thursday. The sides agreed to postpone negotiations because Butros Butros Ghali, Egypt's foreign minister, would be out of the country.

In Israel, a poll published by the independent newspaper Haaretz showed that Israelis are almost equally divided over the controversial question of putting up further settlements in the occupied Arab West Bank and Gaza. Some 44.3 percent opposed further settlements; 40.2 percent were in favor.