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DATE=10-2-2000

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-267344

TITLE=U.S.-MIDEAST VIOLENCE (L)

BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST

DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The Clinton Administration says it has arranged a meeting of Israel and Palestinian security officials in the region to try to stem the outburst of violence that has set back U-S hopes for a peace accord before President Clinton leaves office. Correspondent David Gollust reports from the White House.

TEXT: A written statement said the United States will chair a meeting of security officials of the two sides as soon as conditions permit for the purpose of fact-finding and to try to prevent a re-occurrence of the violence of the past few days, the most serious in several years.

The agreement to hold the meeting, at an unspecified site in the region, was the main result of a weekend of intense U-S diplomacy that included telephone appeals for restraint by President Clinton to both Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

Middle East envoy Dennis Ross and C-I-A director George Tenet were also involved in the effort to end fighting that U-S officials fear has dealt a major setback to hopes of a final-status Israeli-Palestinian peace accord before Mr. Clinton leaves office in January.

The White House statement said Mr. Clinton expressed to both leaders his deep concern about the escalation of violence and his condolences to families of the victims, and urged the sides to exert maximum efforts to restore calm immediately.

Clinton spokesman Jake Siewert said the administration was not about to engage in finger-pointing as to responsibility for the latest outburst of bloodshed. He none-the-less said the visit Thursday to Jerusalem's Temple Mount by Israeli Likud party leader Ariel Sharon was not helpful and counterproductive given the sensitivity of the site.

Mr. Siewert said President Clinton and other senior officials intend to remain in contact with the parties and have not given up on a peace accord. He said the issues still in dispute, including the status of Jerusalem, will have to be resolved at the negotiating table sooner or later, and that Mr. Clinton feels it might as well be sooner.

Officials say there are no plans for an early visit to the region by Secretary of State Madaleine Albright or Mr. Tenet, and that the planned three-way security meeting will be at what is termed - a working level. (SIGNED)

NEB/DAG/RAE