JERUSALEM - In a bold initiative, Egypt summoned the leaders of Israel, the Palestinians and Jordan today to a long-awaited summit next week, and they agreed to attend.

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

Abdullah, whose country is a peace partner with Israel, is a fervent supporter of a negotiated Palestinian-Israeli settlement. He accepted the invitation today, a senior Jordanian official said on condition of anonymity.

The Egyptian and Jordanian presence would signal Arab support for any agreements Abbas might reach with Sharon.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia said the Palestinians hope the summit will produce a mutual cease-fire, a halt to Israel's targeted killings of militants and the release of Palestinian prisoners.

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."

Israel's Security Cabinet will meet Thursday to discuss the agenda of the Abbas-Sharon summit.

The invitation was offered during a hastily arranged meeting today between Sharon and Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman. A day before, Suleiman held talks in Cairo with the leaders of Hamas and Islamic Jihad - Khaled Mashaal and Ramadan Shalah, respectively.

The intelligence chief's unexpected trip to Jerusalem signaled that he made progress in winning a promise from the Palestinian militant groups to halt attacks on Israel.

Israelis and Palestinians have taken major steps toward a cease-fire in recent days but have not yet agreed on a mutual truce declaration.

Palestinian security forces have deployed in Gaza to prevent attacks, and Abbas has won an informal promise from militant leaders to suspend attacks, provided Israel halts military operations.

Israel has said it will halt operations in Gaza and scale them back in the West Bank.

However, in recent days the two sides got bogged down in mutual accusations, following a spike in violence, including the killing of a 10-year-old Palestinian girl in Gaza on Monday. Each side has said the other was responsible for the death of the girl, which triggered a Palestinian mortar barrage.

In other developments today, a senior Israeli Defense Ministry official said the two sides plan to set up a panel to take some Palestinian fugitives off Israel's wanted list, signaling progress toward easing a major source of contention. Israel has vigorously pursued fugitives during four years of fighting, killing or arresting hundreds, and is chasing several hundred more, the Palestinian Authority estimates.

Amos Gilad, the Defense Ministry official, told Israel's Army Radio that Cabinet ministers are set to approve formation of the panel later this week.

The ministers are expected to approve the release of several hundred Palestinian prisoners, which would fall short of Palestinian demands, and the phased handover of five West Banks towns.