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Reports that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel and President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority will declare at a summit meeting in Egypt their intention to suspend attacks after four years of conflict. Renewal of direct American involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice; Intent of U.S. President George W. Bush to meet separately with both leaders; The growing momentum toward reviving a peace effort that was stalled until the death of Yasir Arafat, the Palestinian leader; Comments of Israeli and Palestinian officials; Observation that much will depend on the ability of Abbas to rein in the militant Palestinian factions and particularly Hamas; Israel's announcement of a pullback of its military forces from West Bank cities; Significance of these developments; Outlook.

Reports that an Israeli helicopter strike killed the Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip, Dr. Abdel Aziz Rantisi, who assumed the post after a similar attack killed the group's founder, Sheik Ahmed Yassin. Protests by Palestinians, who vowed revenge; Details of the attack; Reference to U.S. President George W. Bush's approval of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plans to withdraw unilaterally from the Gaza Strip; Background on Rantisi; International criticism of Israel for its killings of Palestinians involved in violence; Outlook.