[Carol Lin, Cnn Anchor:] A Dick Cheney trip to the region might not happen. The vice president now says there is no way he can meet with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat before Wednesday's Arab summit. But that's not all that's still up in the air.
[Mike Hanna, Cnn Correspondent:] Still no decision from the Israeli government as to whether Yasser Arafat will be allowed to travel to the Arab summit in Beirut. The Israeli prime minister has suggested to the U.S. vice president that it may be more important for Sharon himself to address the summit rather than Arafat.
[Ariel Sharon, Israeli Prime Minister:] I told Vice President Cheney that when one discusses the future and the fate of Israel, the most important thing is to hear first and foremost the position of Israel and its plans for the future.
[Nabil Abu-rudeineh, Yasser Arafat's Adviser:] The presence of President Arafat at the Arab summit is very important, and this decision is a crucial decision, and this would be decided within the coming 24 hours.
[Hanna:] Arafat's travel plans ultimately dependent on whether or not special U.S envoy Anthony Zinni succeeds in his attempts to negotiate a cease-fire. But even as Palestinian and Israeli security chiefs hold another round of talks, the violence continues, an Israeli woman shot and killed by Palestinian gunmen near a Jewish settlement in the West Bank, and shortly afterwards, a Palestinian police officer killed by Israeli forces who say they were fired upon. Another four Palestinians shot and killed by Israeli forces in a firefight near the Jordan border. In the West Bank city of Nablus, the funeral of a Palestinian who died in an explosion he himself detonated at an Israel army roadblock two days ago, and no sign here of any willingness to observe a cease- fire. "The intifada until death" is the chant. In another procession, prayers for peace. Traditional Palm Sunday celebration in Bethlehem, but the ongoing violence evidence that calls for further conflict at this stage ring more loud. Mike Hanna, CNN, Jerusalem.