Powell: CIA Working on Terror Plan

WASHINGTON (AP) - Secretary of State Colin Powell says the CIA is working on a new plan to protect Israel from terror attacks, as the White House expressed cautious optimism Wednesday about progress toward peace.

Even while shunning Yasser Arafat - an approach opposed by Russian, European and U.N. officials who met the day before in New York with Powell - the secretary said the United States was discussing the security plan with Palestinian officials.

"I think we have a pretty good plan," Powell said without divulging any details at a news conference following the New York meeting of the Mideast policy planning group called the Quartet.