Mr. Rabin spoke at a contentious session in which Parliament gave its imprimatur to the accord, 52 to 0.

Even before the nation had heard of Ms. Lewinsky, this promised to be a contentious Congressional session, with the two parties seeking an edge for the November elections.

That contrasted with the mood early this week after a contentious session involving American, European, Russian and Chinese envoys at the United Nations.

A rather less contentious session was on EDI: Editions, Edicts and Edifications.

Perhaps one of the most poignant and politely contentious sessions was one in which African children sat face to face with representatives of their governments.

The 1991 budget agreement, finally approved Oct. 27, 1990, ended one of the most contentious sessions of Congress in years.

They meet again next week in Paris, doubtless in the first of many contentious sessions.

Officials in both parties consider the battle as a bit of muscle-flexing on both sides, and said it could presage a contentious session.

But the crowd-pleasing spending package was 104 days late, and looking back at the contentious legislative session, not everyone agreed that the final budget was worth the wait.

There was something draining yet refreshing about his contentious sessions with Haaj, not unlike sparring in the gym.