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DATE=10/14/00

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=ISRAEL / PALESTINIANS (L)

NUMBER=2-267930

BYLINE=SONJA PACE

DATELINE=JERUSALEM

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak have agreed to a Middle East summit to try to end the violence of the past two weeks. That meeting is expected to take place on Monday in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm al-Sheik. V-O-A's Sonja Pace has details from Jerusalem.

TEXT: For U-N Secretary-General Kofi Annan, this was a long-awaited breakthrough. Mr. Annan has been here for the past week shuttling between Middle Eastern capitals and holding numerous meetings with both Palestinian and Israeli leaders. Early Saturday, he got both sides to agree to a summit meeting.

Mr. Annan said no pre-conditions were set for the talks, but he did note there were some "suggestions."

Nabil Shaath, senior aide to Yasser Arafat, says Palestinians expect the Israelis to pull back their troops from Palestinian towns and at least partially lift their siege of Palestinian areas to allow in food and medicine. Israeli officials have said they expect Mr. Arafat to re-arrest dozens of Islamic militants recently released from Palestinian jails.

Mr. Annan said he asked both sides to stop firing until the summit. It is hoped Monday's summit will formalize such a cease-fire and make it permanent. Only then, officials say, can there be talk of trying to get back to actual peace negotiations.

Mr. Annan now meets with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who will host the meeting. U-S President Clinton is also expected to attend.

The current round of violence began more than two weeks ago, sparked by a visit by Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon to a religious site sacred to both Muslims and Jews. That led to daily clashes between Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli security forces.

The violence has left almost 100 people dead, almost all of them Palestinians. Since then, world leaders have repeatedly urged Palestinian and Israeli leaders to meet and stop the bloodshed. (Signed)

NEB/SP/ALW/PLM