Military

DATE=7/9/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=ISRAEL / PALESTINIANS (L- UPD)

NUMBER=2-291858

BYLINE=LARRY JAMES

DATELINE=JERUSALEM

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

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INTRO: Palestinian sources say Israeli troops shot and killed a leading member of the Islamic Jihad militant group in the West Bank. Larry James reports from Jerusalem.

TEXT: Islamic Jihad officials said Moammar Daraghmah was killed when his car was ambushed in the village of Yamun, about 10-kilometers from the city of Jenin.

Israeli army radio quoted military officials as saying they have no information about the shooting. Israel has carried out similar actions in the past against Palestinians wanted for attacks against Israelis.

In another development, Israeli police closed the offices of the president of Al-Quds University in east Jerusalem. Israel's public security ministry said it was closed because it was being used for Palestinian Authority business, which is not permitted under Israeli-Palestinian agreements.

Meanwhile, Israeli and Palestinian officials began a series of face-to-face meetings, the first they have held in months.

Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres met late Monday in Jerusalem with the Palestinian Authority's new finance minister, Salam Fayad. He has additional meetings with other Palestinian Authority leaders scheduled.

Israeli officials say Prime Minister Ariel Sharon instructed Mr. Peres to limit his meetings to discussing humanitarian issues and cracking down on terrorism. But Mr. Peres indicated that many subjects are under discussion.

Elsewhere top officials from the United States, the European Union, Russia, and the United Nations are preparing to meet next week in New York to discuss joint efforts to end 22-months of Israeli-Palestinian fighting.

U-S officials say the meeting will begin July 15th and could be expanded to the next day to include foreign ministers from Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. (SIGNED)

NEB/LDJ/KL/RAE