Israel says its military forces have pulled out of the West Bank town of Ramallah and several other Palestinian-ruled areas they entered in the past several days.

 An Israeli army statement says troops also withdrew from Qalqilya and Tulkarm in the West Bank, as well as a Palestinian-ruled area in the Gaza Strip. The statement says forces will remain just outside the areas. The Israeli military remains in parts of Bethlehem.
 
 

AP
Anthony Zinni

 General Zinni will visit Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in Ramallah late Friday after talks with other Israeli officials. Top Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat says Mr. Arafat will present his own cease-fire plan the to the U.S. envoy.

 Mr. Erekat says Israel must end its occupation of Palestinian cities and villages, and end acts of aggression.

 Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres told Israeli radio Friday that General Zinni has a good chance of achieving a truce this time because both sides want and need it.

 Meanwhile, deadly Israeli-Palestinian violence continues. Two Palestinians were killed Friday in separate incidents in Gaza.

 Israeli officials say they arrested several militants overnight in the West Bank, where troops also found explosives.
 
 

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

Email this article to a friend.
Printer Friendly Version