Veiled optimism for peace talks

ISRAELIS and Palestinians far from yesterday's summit in Egypt expressed doubts whether a ceasefire declared by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and President Mahmoud Abbas could end four years of bloodshed.

"You can try to make peace but there are always terrorists behind the scenes who want something else," said Benita Rol, a 47-year-old Israeli, after the Israeli and Palestinian leaders met in Egypt.

Palestinian militant groups behind dozens of suicide bombings in Israel said they were not bound by the pledges made to halt bloodshed but would continue to follow a de facto truce that has sharply reduced violence over the past several weeks.