The best jokes always have a grain of truth to them.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon finally sits down with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to try to work out an agreement.

Sharon asks if he might first tell a story. Arafat tells him to go ahead.

"When Moses was in the desert for 40 years," Sharon begins, "the Jews got very thirsty and Moses asked the Lord for water and there appeared a beautiful lake.

"The Jews first drank and then bathed themselves. Moses did the same but when he came out of the water his clothes were gone.

"Moses shouted: 'Where are my clothes?' Someone answered: 'The Palestinians took them.' "

Arafat quickly interjected: "There were no Palestinians at that time!"

"Now," Sharon replied, "we can begin to negotiate."

SAR