Against the backdrop of persistent violence , Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel and the Palestinian leader , Mahmoud Abbas , met Tuesday , but were unable to agree on concrete steps for strengthening a truce that is at risk of unraveling .
Ariel Sharon /people/person/nationality Israel
IN DT NN IN JJ NN , NNP NNP NNP NNP IN NNP CC DT JJ NN , NNP NNP , VBD NNP , CC VBD JJ TO VB IN JJ NNS IN VBG DT NN WDT VBZ IN NN IN NN .
Ariel Sharon
PERSON
Israel
LOCATION
/people/person/nationality