JERUSALEM - In a bold initiative, Egypt summoned the leaders of Israel, Jordan and the Palestinians on Wednesday to a long-awaited summit next week, and the Israeli and Palestinian prime ministers accepted.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak offered to host Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Jordan´s King Abdullah II and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik. All three leaders accepted.

In recent days, there had been increasing bickering over what issues to raise in an Abbas-Sharon meeting, and disagreements remain over the scope of a Palestinian prisoner release, the fate of Palestinian fugitives and a West Bank troop redeployment.

The arrival of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in the region over the weekend also intensifies pressure on the two sides to settle some of their differences over what should be announced after such a meeting. It was not clear whether Rice also would fly to Sharm el- Sheik.

The trip to Egypt would mark a major achievement for Sharon, whom Mubarak has steadfastly refused to meet since the hardline Israeli politician became prime minister in 2001. Israeli radios described the invitation to Egypt as "historic." (Copyright 2005 Associated Press. 02/02/05)