1.   And while three previous truce agreements have not worked and current diplomatic efforts are not really sailing along, Carter is hopeful about this truce.

2.   Previous truce agreements have fallen apart soon after they were reached.

3.   Previous truce deals reached in the past year, including one brokered by CIA chief George Tenet in June, collapsed within days.

4.   Previous truce efforts have failed and the Palestinians suspect Peres has only a limited mandate from Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon who is suspicious of Arafat.

5.   All previous truces have collapsed.

6.   All previous truce arrangements have broken down, most recently the one brokered by CIA chief George Tenet in June.

7.   But both sides accuse each other of failing to observe previous truces.

8.   But previous high-level truce efforts have collapsed, including personal intervention by former President Clinton.

9.   But that agreement, like several previous truces, appeared in tatters almost as quickly as it was announced.

10.   Catholics and pro-British Protestants pray for a planned IRA cease-fire to last longer than the previous truce.