Military

The two sides met for two-and-a-half hours late Thursday. A U.N. spokesman (Fred Eckhard) declined to comment on how that talks had gone, but said the parties would meet again this morning (at 0900 EDT).

Israel wants the group to include more military experts, to limit its investigation to the Jenin refugee camp and to look into Palestinian terrorism at the camp.

Palestinians say Israeli troops massacred civilians in Jenin. Israel strongly denies the charge.

The United Nations says it still expects the investigating team to arrive in the region by the end of this week.

U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan last week appointed the three-member panel headed by former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari. The other members are the former president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Cornelio Sommaruga, and former U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, Sadako Ogata. Retired U.S. Major General William Nash is to serve as the team's top military advisor.

The world body has already added two more military experts to the fact-finding team, in response to Israel's request.