Military

DATE=11/05/00

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=ISRAEL/PALESTINIANS (S&L)

NUMBER=2-268853

BYLINE=ROSS DUNN

DATELINE=JERUSALEM

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The killing of two Palestinians during ongoing clashes with Israeli security forces may have undermined faith in a truce agreement and planned peace talks. Ross Dunn reports from Jerusalem.

TEXT: The deaths were the first in two days, dimming hopes that the violence that has racked the occupied territories for five-weeks is tapering off.

A truce arranged Thursday between Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres seemed to lower the level of the confrontations between stone-throwing Palestinians and Israeli soldiers.

The latest clashes occurred during a confrontation outside a refugee camp in the Gaza Strip and fighting in the West Bank cities of Bethlehem and Hebron.

The latest killings bring to more than 170 the number of deaths in the clashes. Almost all of those killed have been Palestinians.

Some Palestinians carried Lebanese flags to show solidarity with their northern neighbors, who Arabs see as having driven Israeli troops out of their country earlier this year.

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Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Barak warned that his nation would stand firm in the face of the ongoing violence in the Palestinian territories. He said his army would defend citizens and fellow soldiers wherever they may be.

The latest killings came as President Clinton again offered his support in a bid to end the violence and resume peace talks. He is due to meet Mr. Arafat in Washington on Thursday.

Mr. Barak is to hold talks with Mr. Clinton in Washington a few days later. (SIGNED)

NEB/RD/DW/RAE