DATE=03/27/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=ISRAEL / PALESTINIANS (S)

NUMBER=2-288033

BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN

DATELINE= JERUSALEM

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat will not attend the Arab summit in Beirut but he is expected to address the gathering via satellite from his headquarters in the West Bank town of Ramallah. V-O-A Correspondent Laurie Kassman reports from Jerusalem.

TEXT: News of Mr. Arafat's decision not to travel to Beirut came late Tuesday only a few hours after Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told a T-V interviewer the situation, in his words, was not ripe for lifting the travel ban on the Palestinian leader.

The news also followed yet another deadly attack, this time against international observers in the West Bank town of Hebron. Two members of an international observer force there died in an ambush on their vehicle.

A third member of the team who was injured in the attack told Israel Radio the assailant was wearing a Palestinian police uniform and carrying a Kalashnikov rifle. The Palestinians have called for an investigation.

Early Wednesday, Israel's military reported its forces had killed two Palestinians trying to cross into Israel from the Gaza Strip. Other sporadic incidents of violence have been reported in the area.

The violence has marred the start of the Jewish Passover holiday. Israeli security is on high alert amid warnings of more terrorist attacks. (Signed)

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