DATE=3/15/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT -

TITLE=ISRAEL / PALESTINIANS (L)

NUMBER=2-287594

BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN

DATELINE= JERUSALEM

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: U-S envoy Anthony Zinni meets later in the day with Israeli officials as he continues his peace mission to the region. He met with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon shortly after arriving in Israeli Thursday night. Correspondent Laurie Kassman reports from Jerusalem.

TEXT: Israel redeployed its troops around the West Bank towns of Tulkarem, Qalqilya and Ramallah early Friday morning after Prime Minister Sharon met with U-S envoy Zinni the night before. Mr. Zinni is due to meet Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat at his Ramallah headquarters later in the day.

Israeli tanks had been positioned within firing range of Mr. Arafat's Ramallah headquarters since December.

In his talks with Prime Minister Sharon, Mr. Zinni repeated U-S demands that Israel withdraw from all Palestinian-controlled territories. Officials at the meeting say Mr. Sharon told the U-S envoy Israeli troops would pull back as soon as his anti-terrorism campaign is completed.

Israel's military has invaded Palestinian towns and refugee camps in its largest operation in two decades to hunt down suspected Palestinian militants responsible for attacks against Israelis. The death toll has surpassed 200 since the start of the month in the worst bloodshed since the start of the Palestinian uprising more than 18 months ago. Most of the victims were Palestinians.

Israel Radio says Prime Minister Sharon has set up a committee headed by Foreign Minister Shimon Peres to conduct ceasefire negotiations with the Palestinians. Last week, Mr. Sharon dropped his demands for seven days of complete calm before starting the talks.

Palestinian officials say they are willing to work with Mr. Zinni if Israel withdraws completely from Palestinian territories. The head of Palestinian security forces in Gaza says Palestinians will strike back if Israeli troops continue their operations there.

Mr. Zinni has said he is ready to stay in the region as long as it takes to implement a long-lasting truce, something his last two peace missions failed to achieve. (Signed)

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