The office of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon now says that no decision has been made on whether a cease-fire meeting will be held Sunday with Palestinian officials. 

Earlier, Mr. Sharon's office said the prime minister, U.S. envoy Anthony Zinni and Palestinian officials would meet to discuss a truce. A statement said the two sides intend to start implementing a Mideast truce plan worked out last year by American CIA Director George Tenet. 

The apparent retraction came after Palestinian officials said they would not attend any meetings until Israeli troops leave all Palestinian-ruled areas they recently occupied. Israeli forces pulled out of three West Bank towns Friday but remain in Bethlehem and the nearby village of Beit Jalla.

 The Associated Press quotes an Israeli official as saying Israel has assured the Palestinians it will pull out of Bethlehem and Beit Jalla. In addition, Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres says Israel will halt its attacks against Palestinian-ruled areas.
 
 

Friday, General Zinni said he sensed that both sides are committed to getting out of what he called "this terrible situation." About 60 Israelis and nearly 200 Palestinians have been killed in clashes between the sides just since the beginning of March.

 The area was relatively calm during the day Saturday. However, news reports say Israeli soldiers shot and killed a taxi driver in the West bank town of Hebron, in an area under curfew.
 
 

Some information for this report provided by AFP and Reuters.

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