31.   The U.N. summit is an opportunity for both Barak and Arafat to intensify their diplomatic offensive and try to deflect blame for a possible breakdown of the negotiations.

32.   They could try to deflect blame onto Needle, who was arrested for the slaying but committed suicide in prison before trial.

33.   Trying to deflect blame, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday that the peace process with the Palestinians collapsed two years ago, before he took office.

34.   Zhu on Thursday was careful to deflect blame from his boss, President Jiang Zemin.