Military

DATE=10/25/00

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=ISRAEL / PALESTINIANS (L)

NUMBER=2-268415

BYLINE=ROSS DUNN

DATELINE=JERUSALEM

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Top Israeli and Palestinian security officials are meeting (today/Wednesday) in an attempt to reduce violent clashes in the territories, now in their fourth week. Ross Dunn reports from Jerusalem that the talks began after the Palestinian Authority enlisted the cooperation of Islamic militants in the uprising against Israel.

TEXT: Two Israeli generals with responsibility for the West Bank and Gaza Strip joined their Palestinian counterparts in talks Wednesday aimed at lowering the level of violence in the territories.

The meeting came amid predictions that the fighting will continue, unless political leaders agree to return to the negotiating table.

Two militant Muslim groups, Hamas and the Islamic Jihad, confirm they have joined with mainstream Palestinian groups in directing and participating in the rebellion against Israeli rule.

The speaker of the Palestinian parliament, Ahmed Korei, told a news conference in Ramallah that the Palestinian people are united in their struggle.

/// KOREI ACT ///

The relation between Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Palestinian (Authority), the Palestinian in front of the aggression, is one people facing aggression, resisting this aggression by all means. That's the relation. There is a national unity between all the Palestinians on the ground. Hamas people are part of the Palestinian people. Jihad, they are part of the Palestinian people.

/// END ACT ///

But while each side blames the other for the ongoing clashes, Israel and the Palestinians have not broken off all contacts. A senior aide to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak met with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on Tuesday in Gaza City.

President Clinton is encouraging further dialogue, and has raised the possibility of bringing both leaders to Washington for separate meetings in an effort to stop the violence.

Mr. Clinton has also urged Mr. Arafat and Mr. Barak to honor the U-S brokered cease-fire agreement reached at a summit in Egypt earlier this month. (Signed)

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