Arafat and Sharon strike moderate note
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has condemned Palestinian terrorist groups.
He says he is determined to put an end to the activities of groups that attack Israeli civilians.
He made the statement in a newspaper editorial.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon defended his meeting with senior Palestinian leaders and said he planned more such talks, a development that has drawn criticism from hard-line Israelis.
The two leaders, who routinely exchange harsh accusations, both sounded a moderate tone in remarks that came on the heels of top-level meetings between the two sides.
While producing no breakthroughs, the talks mark a shift for Israelis and Palestinians, who had broken off virtually all contacts in recent weeks as the fighting intensified.
The talks have offered a glimmer of hope that the two sides are both serious about finding ways to end the 16 months of fighting.
But critics interpreted the recent moves largely as public relations efforts by two leaders facing difficulties.
