DATE=03/18/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=ISRAEL / PALESTINIANS (L)

NUMBER=2-287702

BYLINE=ROSS DUNN

DATELINE=JERUSALEM

CONTENT=

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VOICED AT:

INTRO: Israeli troops were preparing to withdraw Monday (have withdrawn) from Palestinian ruled-areas of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The move follows a second round of high-level security talks between the two sides. Ross Dunn in Jerusalem has more on the story.

TEXT: Israeli troops have been ordered to withdraw from positions in and around the West Bank town of Bethlehem and Palestinian-ruled areas of the Gaza Strip.

The order followed a meeting of Palestinian and Israeli security chiefs in Jerusalem, attended by U-S special envoy Anthony Zinni.

The Palestinian Authority had pushed for an unconditional troop withdrawal from the re-occupied areas.

Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat says a withdrawal could move the parties one step closer to reaching a cease-fire agreement.

/// EREKAT ACT ///

I really hope that in the next few hours we will see the Israelis deploying from area A (areas under Palestinian self-rule) in the West Bank and Gaza (Strip). And that this will facilitate a tri-lateral, high-level security meeting

/// END ACT ///

Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres says the chances of reaching a cease-fire with the Palestinians have improved.

He says that Mr. Zinni's mission to broker a truce was difficult but seemed to bring results.

/// PERES ACT ///

What we are trying right now to achieve after a terrible year of terror, actually a year and half is to arrive at a cease-fire. General Zinni is here. He is trying to make a supreme effort to introduce a cease-fire. If you ask me there is a chance for a cease-fire.

/// END ACT ///

Israel is insisting that once the pull-back of its troops takes place, Palestinian police will prevent militants from using the evacuated sectors to launch new attacks.

Israel's defense minister, Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, says that Israel's ultimate obligation is not to any truce but to prevent its citizens from being killed. (Signed)

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