DATE=03/18/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=ISRAEL / PALESTINIANS (S)

NUMBER=2-287703

BYLINE=ROSS DUNN

DATELINE=JERUSALEM

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Israeli troops are preparing to withdraw (have withdrawn) from Palestinian ruled-areas of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.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 from Palestinian-ruled areas of the Gaza Strip.

The order followed a meeting of Palestinian and Israeli security chiefs in Jerusalem that was attended by U-S Special Envoy Anthony Zinni.

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

But 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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