DATE=05/17/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=ISRAEL / PALESTINIANS (S-UPDATE)

NUMBER=2-289919

BYLINE=MEREDITH BUEL

DATELINE=JERUSALEM

CONTENT=

VOICE AT:

/// UPDATES 2-289903 BY ROSS DUNN ///

INTRO: Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat says there will be no general elections in the Palestinian territories until after the Israeli military occupation ends. As Correspondent Meredith Buel reports from Jerusalem, other Palestinian leaders say they hope elections will be held within the next six months.

TEXT: Mr. Arafat told reporters in Ramallah elections will be held when Israel ends its occupation of Palestinian territories, according to an agreement that was supposed to have been implemented in 1999.

That was the year Israel and the Palestinians were to have reached a final peace accord.

Palestinian Planning Minister Nabil Shaath told The Associated Press the goal is still to hold elections within six months.

Mr. Shaath said, however, Israeli troops must first withdraw to positions held before September 2000, when the current uprising against Israeli occupation began.

Palestinian lawmakers are urging Mr. Arafat to authorize a vote by early next year as part of a package of proposals designed to reform the Palestinian Authority.

Meanwhile, Israeli tanks and troops entered the Jenin refugee camp before dawn, arresting 20 suspected militants before withdrawing. The Jenin camp was the scene of heavy fighting during a six-week Israeli military offensive in the West Bank that ended last week. (Signed)

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