Arafat can't go to summit says Israel

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has not yet met Israel's conditions for attending an Arab summit in Beirut, Israel said today.

"Arafat has not done enough. But there is still time. The summit has not yet started," a government spokesman said.

Israeli premier Ariel Sharon wants Mr Arafat first to implement a truce and arrest more Palestinian militants. Israel has confined Mr Arafat to the West Bank city of Ramallah since early December.

The United States wants Israel to let the Palestinian leader attend the summit in Beirut. His presence would add weight to a Saudi peace initiative that is likely to be embraced by Arab leaders at their two-day meeting starting tomorrow.