Security chiefs pledge to reduce bloodshed
A security meeting between Israel and the Palestinians has ended with officials on both sides promising to work to defuse the seven months of violence.
The announcement followed a series of Palestinian bomb attacks in Israel.
The meeting took place at the home of US ambassador Martin Indyk, said Palestinian participants, who briefed Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat after the meeting.
A statement by the Israeli military said: ‘‘An effort will be made to reduce the level of violence and improve security co-operation’’.
A meeting of local commanders was scheduled for Friday, the statement said.
Palestinian participants had no immediate comment.
The United States has been promoting the meetings of security commanders, aiming to restore co-operation that was instrumental in preventing bomb attacks in Israel by extremist Palestinians before the current round of violence erupted on September 28.
Israel claims Arafat’s security and police forces are directly involved in the attacks, and Arafat has done nothing to stop them.
The Palestinians say that Israel is to blame for the unrest because of harsh restrictions on the Palestinians, ruining their economy.
