TRUCE?

Israel, Palestinians to declare formal truce: Progress follows visit by Rice, and announcement of Bush meetings

JERUSALEM - The Israeli and Palestinian leaders will declare a formal end to more than four years of fighting at a summit Tuesday in Egypt, both sides said Monday. Israeli and Palestinian negotiators finalized the agreement during last-minute preparations Monday.

“The most important thing at the summit will be a mutual declaration of cessation of violence against each other,” said Saeb Erekat, a Palestinian negotiator. An Israeli government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the cease-fire agreement, saying that the deal would also include an end to Palestinian incitement.

Earlier Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice ended two days of meetings in Israel and the West Bank by announcing that President Bush will meet separately this spring with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.