Jerusalem, Nov 27: Senior Israeli and Palestinian officials, including Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's son and Yasser Arafat's security adviser, were to meet in London today at the start a two-day conference on implementation of a US-backed peace plan. Israeli labor party lawmaker Ephraim Sneh said the sides were invited by the British government to present their positions and discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He described the talks as ``not academic,'' but also not official peace negotiations. "The government in London and friends of Israel...Arranged for a meeting...In which the top echelons of the British government in the defense and political arenas would be able to learn first hand on the situation between us and the Palestinians and what can be done,'' Sneh told Israel radio in an interview from London.

The British foreign office said the government did not organise the talks but that middle east minister baroness symons is attending tomorrow's session.


The talks will focus on renewing long-stalled peace talks and implementation of the internationally backed ``road map,'' which envisions the formation of a Palestinian state by 2005. Likud Party legislator Omri Sharon, the Israeli Prime Minister's son who has met Yasser Arafat at his father's behest in the past, is part of the Israeli delegation, Sneh confirmed.
Bureau Report