Israel considers monitors to prevent more bloodshed

JERUSALEM - Israel is reviewing a formula to let the United States' CIA oversee a truce with the Palestinians after Group of Eight leaders urged Israel to allow in monitors to prevent more bloodshed.

Foreign Minister Shimon Peres suggested Israel might agree to CIA monitors to oversee a truce drawn up by the intelligence agency's Director George Tenet last month, along with an internationally backed framework for renewing peace talks.

The ceasefire has been derailed by almost daily bloodshed since it was forged on June 13 in the hope of ending 10 months of fighting in which more than 600 people have been killed.

Israeli political sources said Israel still opposed a Palestinian demand for the deployment of international observers or peacekeepers.

Israel maintains that a significant foreign force in the West Bank and Gaza Strip would act as a shield for militants to carry out attacks. Palestinians say peacekeepers are needed to prevent "Israeli aggressions."

Israeli security forces remained on high alert yesterday after a Palestinian bomber was arrested shortly before he was due to strap a device made up of half a dozen pipe bombs to his body and detonate it in the northern port city of Haifa.

Alerted to a possible attack, police set up roadblocks and found the man before he could carry out the plan. He led them to the hidden bomb.

- REUTERS

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