Security chiefs seek to strengthen ceasefire

Israeli and Palestinian security chiefs met CIA chief George Tenet today, the highest-level mediation yet by the Bush administration.

It was an attempt to stabilise a fragile ceasefire and prepare the way for resuming peace negotiations.

The three-way security meeting in the West Bank town of Ramallah came a day after Tenet met separately with Israeli and Palestinian leaders and security commanders.

Efforts to get Israelis and Palestinians working together again to assure calm on the ground sparked anger Friday among some Palestinians, who burned an effigy of Tenet. The Hamas terror group condemned Tenet’s visit, saying it was an attempt to divide Palestinians and would not be able to stop the intefadeh, or uprising.

The renewed US initiative came as violence continued at a relatively low ebb.

A roadside shooting outside the West Bank town of Ramallah injured an 27-year-old Israeli man.

In the Gaza Strip town of Khan Yunis, two youths were injured when Israeli soldiers responded to stone-throwing after Friday prayers with tear gas and bullets.