Mideast leaders plan summit

Associated Press Writer

CAIRO, Egypt - Egypt on Wednesday invited the leaders of Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Jordan to a summit next week, a move indicating confidence that a much-anticipated breakthrough in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process is in the offing.

Word of the summit, which all parties agreed to attend, came as Damascus-based leaders of the Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad met Egyptian intelligence officials in Cairo, seen as a key step toward securing a truce from Palestinian factions.

The summit, to be held Tuesday in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik, was expected to focus on a possible Palestinian prisoner release, the fate of Palestinian fugitives and a West Bank troop redeployment.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and King Abdullah of Jordan have all accepted invitations to attend from summit host, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

Israeli television reported the summit would also likely result in the return of Egyptian and Jordanian ambassadors to Israel. Egypt withdrew its envoy after the latest Palestinian uprising began in September 2000. The violence also caused Jordan to delay posting a new ambassador. Egyptian and Jordanian officials declined to confirm the reports.