US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Jordan today for talks that the Jordanian government hopes will culminate in renewed American efforts to revive the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Arab nations have asked for a United Nations Security Council ministerial meeting next month to launch a new effort to settle all Arab-Israeli conflicts and restore peace to the Middle East.

A two-day Arab summit opened today in the Sudanese capital Khartoum with several key leaders, including regional heavyweights President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt and Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah, staying away.

An emergency Arab summit scheduled to take place in the Red Sea resort of Sharm El Sheikh in two days has been postponed following today’s death of Saudi Arabia’s King Fahd, said the Arab League secretary-general’s office.

Egypt today offered to host a new meeting of Arab leaders, but the head of the Arab League said there were no immediate plans to do so following the collapse of the Arab summit two days before its scheduled opening.

Palestinian and Israeli leaders were sitting down for face-to-face peace talks with George Bush today, as the US president attempted to build on the diplomatic momentum from his Arab summit.

President George Bush, entering the labyrinth of Mideast peace negotiations, told Arab leaders today that “a few people, a few killers, a few terrorists” cannot be allowed to prevent a settlement between Israelis and Palestinians.

Israel declared Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat an enemy today and sent tanks and troops charging into his compound in the West Bank town of Ramallah, sparking a battle with security forces.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon today set an extremely tough condition on Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat being allowed to attend tomorrow’s crucial Arab summit in Beirut.

Despite US pressure to enable Yasser Arafat to join this week’s crucial Arab summit, Israel will not lift the travel ban on the Palestinian leader unless he takes decisive steps against militants, an adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said today.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was to meet key Cabinet ministers today to decide whether to allow Yasser Arafat to attend this week’s crucial Arab summit in Beirut.

The US has presented proposals to overcome Israeli and Palestinian differences about a truce agreement.

Israeli troops and tanks moved into a Palestinian refugee camp in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank town of Ramallah early today, killing at least 17 Palestinians in their largest offensive in 17 months of conflict.

The Arab summit has failed to reach an agreement on how to resolve the conflict between Iraq and Kuwait.