Egyptian, Mideast officials meet to broker cease-fire

RAMALLAH, West Bank -- The Egyptian intelligence chief working to broker a Mideast truce received "positive" signals from Israel on Monday and invited Palestinian militant factions to Cairo for talks next week, a Palestinian official said.

Omar Suleiman met with the head of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency and other officials as well as Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia and veteran leader Yasser Arafat. Qureia has said he wants to win agreement from the militant groups to halt attacks on Israelis, then to negotiate a cease-fire with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

Suleiman told the Palestinians that Israeli leaders, while not giving any assurances, appeared receptive, Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath said.

"He did say that there is an opportunity that must be taken advantage of. There is a positive atmosphere and a new language," Shaath said. "He told us that he is optimistic."

In the past, Israel has said it will only halt military strikes if Palestinian security forces begin dismantling militant groups, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

However, Israel has signaled in recent weeks it is willing to test a truce for a limited period, without insisting on an immediate crackdown on armed groups.

Sharon is under growing pressure at home and abroad to try to break the deadlock over the U.S.-backed "road map" peace plan.

Last week, four former directors of Israel's Shin Bet security service warned that Israel is headed for disaster if the conflict with the Palestinians is not settled soon. They also accused Sharon of stalling in order to avoid making concessions.

At the same time, a symbolic peace deal negotiated by prominent Israelis and Palestinians has won attention and praise, including from Secretary of State Colin Powell -- an apparent signal of U.S. displeasure with Sharon's policies.

On Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov also welcomed the "Geneva Accord," saying it complemented the road map because it provides a final settlement. Ivanov sent a letter to the organizers of the initiative.

In other developments Monday, a Palestinian was killed by army fire in the West Bank refugee camp of Tulkarem. The army said the man was armed and fired first, while Palestinian residents said he did not carry a weapon.

A truce is considered essential for reviving the peace plan, which envisions Palestinian statehood by 2005. Yet expectations of progress remain low, with the Bush administration expected to be preoccupied with the 2004 election campaign.

As part of renewed cease-fire efforts, Suleiman met Monday with Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia and veteran leader Yasser Arafat. Qureia has said he wants the militant group to agree to halt attacks on Israelis, then negotiate a cease-fire with Sharon.

Suleiman, when asked about truce prospects as he left Arafat's office, said, "Hopefully, there is a cease-fire and dialogue and many good things."

Earlier in the day, Suleiman met in Jerusalem with the chief of the Mossad spy agency, Meir Dagan, Egyptian officials said. Israeli officials declined comment. Suleiman also held talks with the U.S. ambassador to Israel, Dan Kurtzer.

The Israeli security services are divided over whether to accept a truce without a crackdown on militants. The military favors doing so while the Shin Bet security service opposes it, warning that militants would use the time to rebuild.

A Hamas leader, Mousa Abu Marzook, told Egyptian intelligence officials in Cairo earlier this month that his group was ready for a truce if it was backed by the international community and Israel publicly commits to it.

Nafez Azzam, an Islamic Jihad spokesman in Gaza, said Monday his group also was willing to halt attack on Israelis "if Israel stops its attacks on our people."

The "road map" requires the Palestinians to dismantle militant groups, but leaders have said they will not use force for fear of triggering internal fighting. Israel has to dismantle dozens of illegal settlement outposts and freeze settlement construction.

The 12-member National Security Council, headed by Arafat, met Sunday to prepare for Suleiman's visit and said in a statement it "absolutely rejects terrorism and violence." The body said it would set up regional councils of local leaders, who would help security forces restore order and enforce a truce.

Palestinian Cabinet minister Saeb Erekat said much now depends on Israel.

"The main aim of this visit (by Suleiman) is to revive the peace process starting with a mutual cease-fire. I hope that the Israelis will respond to this Egyptian step because this is the only way to break this vicious cycle," he said.

As part of a truce, the Palestinians want Israel to lift travel restrictions and stop building a massive security barrier that cuts through the West Bank.

"Israel will have to come back to its senses and come back and think of the requirements of the other partner," said Hassan Abu Libdeh, a top Qureia aide. "In exchange, the Palestinians will try as much as possible to put their own house in order."

Abu Libdeh noted that Israeli and Palestinian civilians are both "sick and tired" of the fighting.

In another development, Lt. Gen. Moshe Yaalon, the Israeli military chief of staff, indicated that Israeli might attack Syria again if it does not stop backing violent Palestinian and Lebanese groups.

On Oct. 6, the day after a bloody suicide bombing in the city of Haifa, Israeli warplanes bombed what the Israelis said was an Islamic Jihad training base near Damascus in a message to Syria. But the Syrian government said the base was empty.

During a speech at Tel Aviv University on Sunday, Yaalon said, "If Syria ignores the messages that have been sent by Israel and the international community ... it is possible that it will be necessary to send further messages."