WASHINGTON Ñ Several prominent members of Congress and U.S. Jewish leaders expressed opposition to a planned meeting between Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat which has since reportedly been canceled.

Congressional sources said several Democratic and Republican senators and House members relayed messages to Israel that expressed dismay over plans by Peres to meet Arafat. The meeting was planned to take place in Gaza on Sunday.

The members of Congress were joined by prominent American Jews to oppose the meeting. They said the summit with Arafat sends a message that undermines Washington's efforts to launch an international campaign against terrorism.

One congressional staffer said the image of Arafat and Peres smiling and shaking hands amid the destruction in New York and Washington from Islamic suicide attacks would anger many Americans and undermine Israel's credibility. The staffer said that with the exception of U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, there is little support in the Bush administration for such an Arafat-Peres summit.

"There's a lot of anger out there," the congressional staffer said.

"Nobody understands why Israel needs such a public meeting with Arafat at this time."

Israeli sources have confirmed the messages by the members of Congress and American Jews. They said that in one message the Arafat-Peres summit was compared to President George Bush agreeing to meet Saudi billionaire fugitive Osama Bin Laden.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who has compared Arafat to Bin Laden, approved a Peres meeting with the Palestinian leader. But an increasing number of ministers, most of them from Sharon's Likud Party, have objected to the session. Israeli security agencies have also relayed their opposition to the meeting.

Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Michael Melchior denied any U.S. opposition to the Arafat-Peres meeting. "They're not dealing with this right now," Melchior said.

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