Israeli and Palestinian security officials are considering a crucial U.S. compromise proposal on how to implement a ceasefire. 

The two sides met separately with U.S. Mideast envoy Anthony Zinni in Tel Aviv late Sunday and plan to meet again Monday. No details on the proposed U.S. compromise have been released. 

But Israel has said if a ceasefire can be made to work, it would allow Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to attend the Arab summit in Beirut that begins Wednesday. In ongoing violence, Palestinians say Israeli troops killed one Palestinian during an Israeli incursion into Rafah in the Gaza Strip early Monday. On Sunday, eight Palestinians and two Israelis were killed in clashes, the latest fatalities in 18 months of violence. 

Israeli Prime Minister Sharon will convene his cabinet Monday to discuss the Arafat trip. U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney says Israel should let Mr. Arafat attend the summit. 

The summit is expected to focus on a Saudi peace plan welcomed by Washington. Surrounding Israeli forces have confined Mr. Arafat to the West Bank town of Ramallah since December. 

The Saudi peace plan offers Israel completely normal relations with the Arab world in return for its pullout from land captured in the 1967 Mideast War. Saudi officials say they will not formally propose the initiative unless Mr. Arafat attends the summit. 

Mr. Cheney also says it is not likely that he will meet with Mr. Arafat before the Beirut summit. Appearing Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press," he said Mr. Arafat has not yet done enough to halt attacks against Israel. 

Vice President Cheney said he is leaving it up to Mr. Zinni to decide whether Mr. Arafat has done enough to curb terrorism to qualify for a meeting. 

Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.

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