Israel calls off truce talks

JERUSALEM -- Despite a decline in Mideast violence, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon called off long-awaited truce talks Sunday and said Yasser Arafat must bring a complete halt to Palestinian attacks before discussions can begin.

Angry Palestinians called the move "irresponsible," saying it undermined efforts by the United States and other foreign governments to calm tensions in a region wracked by a year of fighting.

Arafat, the Palestinian leader, declared a cease-fire last Tuesday, and Israel immediately announced a halt to offensive military operations. Since then, one Palestinian and one Israeli have been killed. The sides have exchanged fire on several occasions, and Palestinian militants have fired mortars in the Gaza Strip, but the level of violence has dropped.

However, Sharon is insisting on a full 48 hours without any unrest.

"These meetings can take place once there will be full cessation of terror and hostilities," he said in an interview with the Fox News Channel. "We did not ask too much."