DATE=03/26/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=ISRAEL / PALESTINIANS (S-UPD)

NUMBER=

BYLINE=MEREDITH BUEL

DATELINE=JERUSALEM

CONTENT=

VOICE AT:

///// ED'S: UPDATES CR 2-287980, BY LAURIE KASSMAN /////

INTRO: U-S Middle East envoy Anthony Zinni is continuing his efforts to broker a cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinians. Meanwhile, Israel is waiting until the last minute to decide if Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat will be allowed to travel to an Arab summit in Beirut. Correspondent Meredith Buel reports from Jerusalem.

TEXT: Mr. Zinni met with Palestinian officials as both sides considered details of a cease-fire proposal to end nearly 18-months of bloodshed.

Israeli and Palestinian officials say they are seeking clarifications on a compromise truce plan proposed by Mr. Zinni earlier this week. The two sides have disagreed over the timing and the order of steps to be taken if a cease-fire is announced.

It is not clear if a truce could be reached before an Arab summit opens Wednesday in Beirut.

Israel, which has confined Palestinian Chairman Yasser Arafat to the West Bank since December, says there must be a cease-fire agreement before he will be allowed to attend the summit.

As the talks continued, two Palestinians died when their car exploded at a police roadblock near Jerusalem's largest shopping mall.

The Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, a group linked to Mr. Arafat's Fatah faction, claimed responsibility for the blast. (SIGNED)

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