Arafat, Peres meeting yields deal to end violence

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In this story: Erakat says he can't leave Jericho Death toll reaches 175 RELATED STORIES, SITES

Barak's office said in a statement that a two hour meeting between Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and former Prime Minister Shimon Peres had yielded an agreement to implement a U.S.-brokered cease-fire, forged in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh last month.

"An understanding was reached between Israel and the Palestinian Authority on a series of steps on the basis of the Sharm understanding that are due to lead to the renewal of security cooperation and a halt to the violence and incitement," Barak's office said in the statement.

The understanding brought about a freeze in the retaliatory steps determined overnight by Israel's security Cabinet.

A senior Israeli political source said: "Starting from this morning there will be mutual programs to decrease the violence, and at noon both Arafat and Barak are to personally announce on their respective public radios their announcements about stopping the violence immediately."

"Barak is giving orders to the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) and he reported to the Cabinet ministers and (opposition leader Ariel) Sharon," the source said.

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There was no immediate comment available from the Palestinian Authority.

The meeting between two of the men who won the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to forge peace came at the end of another day of violence between Israelis and Palestinians.

Earlier Barak again blamed the escalation on the Palestinian leadership.

"Israel will not sit by, arms folded, in light of the serious escalation initiated by, and the responsibility of, the Palestinian Authority," Barak said. "We are doing everything, and we will do everything necessary, to protect the citizens of Israel."

Barak spoke on a day when at least six Palestinians and three Israeli soldiers died during clashes in Gaza and the West Bank. Palestinians say the Israeli government is responsible for the violence, which a spokesman for Arafat had also described as "escalating."

Following the day of bloody clashes, Israeli military officials told Palestinian TV station employees in the West Bank city of Hebron to evacuate Wednesday night.

Similar warnings in the past have heralded an attack by Israeli helicopter gunships and tanks.

Erakat says he can't leave Jericho

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat, who is due in Washington for talks with U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, told CNN on Wednesday evening that he has been prevented from leaving Jericho by Israeli security forces.

Erakat says Jericho was cordoned off by Israeli security forces, and he was told by the regional army commander he would not be able to leave due to the ongoing fighting. No response to Erakat's statement was yet available from the Israel Defense Forces or the Israeli prime minister's office.

However, Erakat said later he believed he would be able to leave in time to meet with Albright Friday and United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan Saturday.

The Israeli government said Transport Minister Amnon Lipkin-Shahak had met with Arafat on Tuesday, but that was denied by several Palestinian sources. Barak also said he had spoken with Arafat by phone in recent days.

Acting Israeli Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami was in the United States on Wednesday for meetings with Albright. In brief comments, he said, "It is just not an intifada; it is, let us call it, a war of ... or, if you prefer, a mini war. So this is a war in many senses, and the Palestinians are shooting at our soldiers. And therefore we need to address this issue not as a civilian uprising but as a military confrontation.

Regarding his meetings with Albright, he said they reviewed the situation, "and then we assessed what are the possibilities for getting out of this impasse, in order to create the proper conditions for resuming the peace talks."

Death toll reaches 175

More than a month of continued fighting has killed at least 175 people, all but 28 of them Palestinians.

Two Israeli soldiers and three Palestinians were killed Wednesday during a gunbattle south of Bethlehem. Four other Israeli soldiers were injured, CNN was told.

Bullets light the sky on Wednesday night over Gilo, a predominantly Jewish neighborhood on the outskirts of Jerusalem on land claimed by the Palestinians

Israeli helicopters were called in after the Israel Defense Forces said four of its soldiers were wounded in exchanges of gunfire with Palestinians. Jewish settlers in the area were also said to have been involved in the fighting.

One of the three Palestinians killed was a 30-year-old Palestinian policeman who witnesses said was not involved in the fighting. Palestinian officials said at least 17 Palestinians were wounded.

The other Israeli soldier was killed in fighting in Jericho. Later, Israeli helicopter gunships fired on Palestinian organizations in the area.

Israeli forces opened fire on the Palestinian town of Beit Jala after they said Palestinians were firing into an Israeli neighborhood in the disputed enclave of Gilo on the outskirts of Jerusalem.

Earlier Wednesday, two Palestinian teen-agers were shot in the head and killed by Israeli troops at Karni Crossing in Gaza. Later, another Palestinian was killed in the same area.

Doctors said the two teens killed Wednesday were 15 and 16 years old.

A massive funeral that drew thousands of mourners was held Wednesday in Gaza City for four people killed at the crossing Tuesday. The body of one of the teen-agers killed Wednesday was also brought to the mass funeral for burial at what the Palestinians are calling a "martyr's cemetery."

Mourners called for new attacks and resistance against Israeli forces.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Peres, Arafat will meet, try to end Mideast violence
October 31, 2000
Barak outlines path to peace; Israeli helicopters open fire
October 30, 2000
Palestinian negotiator says violence will stop if Israel withdraws troops
October 29, 2000
Israelis, Palestinians mark one month of clashes
October 28, 2000
Ramallah clash erupts into gun battle
October 27, 2000
Militant group claims responsibility for Gaza suicide bombing
October 26, 2000
Clinton invites Arafat to Washington
October 24, 2000
Barak and Sharon at odds on coalition government
October 23, 2000
More Middle East killings as Arab nations confer on crisis
October 21, 2000

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