11.   A previous closure had been eased only two days earlier, ahead of the planned visit of U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to the region next week.

12.   A senior Israeli official held talks with Jordanian leaders Monday on easing the closure of Palestinian territories and fighting terrorism.

13.   A Western diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Israel is likely to ease its closure of the West Bank and Gaza after the summit.

14.   Abu Rdeneh said Israel should have begun easing its closures of Palestinian areas and withdrawing troops on Saturday.

15.   Also on Sunday, Israel eased a closure imposed on the West Bank and Gaza Strip during the attacks.

16.   Arafat also asked Mubarak to urge Israel to ease the closure of the West Bank and Gaza that was imposed following the suicide attacks.

17.   As part of a policy of gradually easing the closure, however, Israel will allow in Palestinians who require emergency medical treatment, Israel radio said.

18.   But some Palestinian officials have suggested Arafat might have trouble mustering a majority for the amendments, especially if the closure is not eased significantly.

19.   But some Palestinian officials have suggested Arafat might have trouble mustering a majority, especially if the closure is not eased significantly.

20.   Defense Minister Yitzhak Mordechai decided to ease the closure after determining that its damage to the Palestinian economy was overriding its effectiveness, Israeli media reported.