White House Extends a Last-Minute Invitation to Shamir to Meet Bush

WASHINGTON —  The White House issued a last-minute invitation Thursday to Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir to meet with President Bush next week.

Israel’s leadership had been kept in suspense for several weeks about whether a meeting would take place, and officials of both countries were said to be puzzled by the Administration’s handling of the invitation.

The Israel government had sought the invitation almost two months ago when Shamir’s trip to the United States was being arranged. Shamir is due in New York on Monday and is scheduled to address Jewish groups in Cincinnati and Los Angeles.

The decision to hold the White House meeting next Wednesday was made during an afternoon meeting Thursday between Bush and Secretary of State James A. Baker III, said sources who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Israeli Embassy officials had said that Thursday was the last day Shamir’s plans could be left hanging.

Some officials of both countries suggested the reason for the delay was U.S. displeasure over Israel’s response to Baker’s proposals for talks with Palestinian representatives about elections in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Israel gave its qualified approval to Baker’s blueprint on Sunday but asked for his assurances on several matters, including the exclusion of the Palestine Liberation Organization from any talks.