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DATE=10/11/2000

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=Israel-Palestine Agreement (L)

NUMBER=2-267793

BYLINE=JENNY BADNER

DATELINE=JERUSALEM

CONTENT=

VOICE AT:

INTRO: Israel and the Palestinians have agreed on a high level meeting to try to halt two weeks of clashes that have left more than 90 people dead. Jenny Badner reports from Jerusalem that the potential breakthrough follows intense diplomatic efforts to end the violence.

TEXT: U-N Secretary General, Kofi Annan announced late Wednesday that Israel and the Palestinians have agreed to meet to try to end the recent violence.

The two sides are expected to hold a high-level security meeting soon, hosted by the United States.

The potential breakthrough follows shuttle diplomacy by Mr. Annan between Israeli and Palestinian leaders. He held a second day of separate talks with Israel's Prime Minister, Ehud Barak, and Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat.

The Palestinians had demanded an international investigation into the clashes, while the Israelis wanted a fact-finding probe led by the United States.

President Clinton has said that, he or U-S Secretary of State Madeleine Albright might travel to the region, but as of yet, he has not been able to arrange a broad Middle East summit.

However, other diplomatic efforts have also been intensifying. British Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook is in the region.

Mr. Cook, who also met with Israeli and Palestinian leaders said both sides must work to rebuild trust in order to restart peace negotiations. The visiting leaders are also trying to aide in the return of three Israeli soldiers captured by Hezbollah militants on the Israel-Lebanon border.

The overall level of violence has gone down. However, at least three more Palestinians were killed in the West Bank and Gaza strip on Wednesday.

Clashes erupted when a group of mourners heading to the funeral of an American born Jewish settler passed a village near the West Bank town of Nablus. Israeli troops fired machine guns mounted on tanks toward Palestinian gunmen.

The violence was sparked late last month when Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon visited a sensitive holy site in Jerusalem's Old City that is sacred to Muslims and Jews. (SIGNED)

NEB/JB/PT