Al-Quds city, March 25, SPA -- Israel will establish diplomatic relations with Chad, a Muslim country in Africa, IsraelRadio reported. The radio reported Thursday that the two countries hadconsidered establishing ties for some time, but the step isbeing taken now to accompany a significant downturn inPalestinian-Israeli violence. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli PrimeMinister Ariel Sharon declared an end to four years ofbloodshed at a summit on Feb. 8. Since the summit, Egypt and Jordan, the only Arab statesto sign peace treaties with Israel, sent new ambassadors toIsrael after an absence of four years because of theconflict. Israel Radio reported that Foreign Minister Silvan Shalommight make a trip to Chad soon. The Haaretz daily reported Friday that Shalom wasscheduled to meet Chad's president, Idriss Deby, earlierthis week but Deby canceled. It said the two men wereexpected to meet in several weeks, and that Chad has alsoproposed sending a delegation to Israel. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev declinedcomment on the reports.--SPA1325 Local Time 1025 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/249690