DATE=3/15/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT -

TITLE=ISRAEL / PALESTINIANS (S)

NUMBER=2-287586

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 pulled back its troops from the West Bank town of 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.

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

Mr. Zinni says he plans 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)

NEB/LMK/RH