Military

DATE=11/01/2000

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-268731

TITLE=ALBRIGHT/BEN-AMI (S-ONLY)

BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE

DATELINE= STATE DEPARTMENT

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

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INTRO: Israel's acting foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami says his country is at war with the Palestinians just hours after three Israeli soldiers and an equal number of Arabs were killed in new clashes in the West Bank and Gaza. He made the comments in Washington after a meeting with Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. VOA Correspondent Nick Simeone reports.

TEXT: The Israeli official says it's not possible to consider peace talks while Israelis and Palestinians are fighting each other not militants with rocks and stones but rival armies with guns.

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It is not just an intifada (uprising). It is, let us call it a war, or if you prefer, a mini-war so this is a war in many senses.

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The Clinton administration is trying to find a way to get both sides to move away from weeks of worsening violence. But there's no indication that after last month's Israeli-Palestinian summit in Egypt failed to end it, any new formula has been found that will.

Later this week, senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat will hold talks with administration officials here as well. (SIGNED)

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