DATE=04/20/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=ISRAEL / PALESTINIANS (S)

NUMBER=2-288939

BYLINE=MEREDITH BUEL

DATELINE=JERUSALEM

CONTENT=

VOICE AT:

INTRO: A top U-S envoy to the Middle East has toured the devastated Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank and called the situation there a "terrible human tragedy." Correspondent Meredith Buel has details from Jerusalem.

TEXT: U-S Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs, William Burns, watched Palestinians in the Jenin refugee camp dig through rain-soaked rubble looking for the bodies of loved ones and personal possessions.

Mr. Burns says "it is obvious that what happened in the Jenin camp has caused enormous human suffering for thousands of Palestinian civilians."

The U-S envoy declined to comment on whether he saw evidence of a massacre that Palestinians allege was committed by the Israeli army during fierce fighting earlier this month with Palestinian gunmen.

Mr. Burns called on Israel to provide "full and complete access to relief agencies" to bring the refugees supplies and equipment.

Meanwhile, Israel says it will cooperate with a United Nations fact-finding team that will investigate what happened during the military assault on the camp.

Friday night, the United Nations Security Council voted unanimously to send a mission to the region headed by U-N Secretary General Kofi Annan.

The Israeli army launched a massive operation in the West Bank after a series of Palestinian suicide attacks killed dozens of Israelis. (Signed)

NEB/MB/RH