Arafat to meet Peres

JERUSALEM, JAN. 13. The Palestinian President, Mr. Yasser Arafat, and the former Israeli Prime Minister, Mr. Shimon Peres, will meet in the Gaza Strip later in the day to try to bridge differences over a final peace deal, said Mr. Arafat's senior adviser.

But both sides played down hopes of reaching an agreement before the U.S. President, Mr. Bill Clinton, leaves office on January 20.

Mr. Nabli Abu Rdainah said Mr. Arafat would meet Mr. Peres during talks scheduled between negotiators from both sides at the Erez crossing on the Gaza-Israel border.

``President Arafat has accepted to receive Peres and the negotiators. The negotiators will meet in the evening and their meeting will be attended by Peres and President Arafat in Gaza.''

A spokesman for Mr. Peres, now Minister of Regional Cooperation, said he was expected to meet Mr. Arafat. Mr. Abu Rdainah said the meeting was at Mr. Peres's initiative. The meeting of negotiators will be the second in 48 hours between the two parties. Palestinian officials said after the last round of talks early on Friday that serious differences remained on key issues including the future of Jerusalem, refugees, borders and Jewish settlements.

Executed

In Nablus (West Bank), the Palestinian Authority executed two Palestinians by firing squad today after they were convicted of collaborating with Israel, witnesses and police said.

Allan Bani Odeh was shot in a public square as thousands of Palestinians chanted `God is great'. Majdi Mikkawi was shot in a closed execution in the main Gaza police station, Palestinian police said.

Palestinian security courts had found both guilty of providing Israel with information that led to the killing of its activists.- Reuters

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