English/Nat

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that Israel would reach an agreement with the Palestinians on a pullout from the West Bank by the end of the year.

Israel has been resisting U-S pressure to turn over an additional 13 percent of the West Bank to the Palestinians in return for a Palestinian crack down on Islamic militants.

But the pressure on Netanyahu is also coming from within Israel and his own cabinet with different groups threatening to pull apart his fragile coalition over the issue.

Despite growing U-S pressure on Israel to make a decision on a troop pull out from the West Bank, Israel's Cabinet again failed to reach agreement on the scope of any withdrawal.

Hardline members of the cabinet have already made their positions clear on the U-S plans.

Infrastructure minister Ariel Sharon has said Israel couldn't accept the U-S proposal as certain parts of the West Bank territory are non-negotiable.

A map he presented to the Cabinet two weeks ago reportedly showed Israel keeping two-thirds of the West Bank - even though Palestinians expect to receive at least 90 percent of the territory as part of a final peace settlement.

Far-right Cabinet ministers have threatened to topple the government if Netanyahu agreed to a 13 percent pullback.

They say such a withdrawal would be a disaster for Jewish settlements.

The Jewish Settlers' Council has already launched a campaign to turn Israeli public opinion against a 13 percent troop pullback.

Some observers think Netanyahu's government is split between those who want peace between Israel and its neighbours and the hardliners who refuse to give an inch to the Palestinians.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

\"There are at least two distinct groups in Netanyahu's cabinet. There are those who are pragmatists and believe that the peace process is the only way for this government to function and believes that if Israel does not move forward with the pullbacks ultimately this would lead even to violence in the territories. There is another group which is the ideological wing and that ideological wing believes that Israel should not yield any of its

biblical patrimony.\"

SUPER CAPTION: David Makovsky, political analyst

Recent polls have suggested that a large majority in Israel want Netanyahu to forge ahead with the peace negotiations and agree to a troop withdrawal.

Among the opponents to a withdrawal is Michael Kleiner, head of a group of right-wing legislators called the Land of Israel Front.

Kleiner believes that Netanyahu might succeed in getting the majority for a pull out in the Knesset but only with Labour party support.

But if Netanyahu went for that it would bring about the collapse of his government.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

\"For the withdrawal itself he may have a majority because the Labour opposition will support him, but for the continuing operation of his government he will loose the majority so practically a decision about such a big second redeployment means new election

because the government will not have any more a parliamentary majority.\"

SUPER CAPTION: Michael Kleiner, right wing member of Parliament

Since his election in 1996, Netanyahu has tried to appease the United States with declarations of unwavering support for the peace process while at the same time giving as little as possible to the Palestinians.

This approach contrasts with that promoted by the opposition Labour party who are waiting to see Netanyahu's next move.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

\"We are not dealing with speculations, when there will be a clear decision that had been made, we will respond. Our basic position is well known. We are supporting the peace process and at the same time we don't have a drop of confidence in Netanyahu's government.\"

SUPER CAPTION: Ehud Barak, head of the Labour opposition party

Israel's continued indecision is likely to further strain ties with the United States which has demanded an Israeli answer within days to its proposals.

However, U-S ultimatums to Israel have come and gone in the past month without repercussions.

It appears that Netanyahu has been more concerned about the survival of his government than about possible U-S censure.

Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, Israel and West Bank - June 1, 1998 and file

File - Jerusalem, May 12, 1998

1. Israeli prime minister Netanyahu entering cabinet meeting

File - Jerusalem, May 24, 1998

2. Ministers Sharon and Mordechai entering cabinet meeting

File - Jerusalem, May 12, 1998

3. Israeli cabinet meeting

File - Maale Ephraim settlement, West Bank

4. Israeli Infrastructure Minister Ariel Sharon overlooking settlement and pointing at map

5. Pan from Sharon to the settlement area

Efrat settlement, West Bank, June 1, 1998

6. Road sign to Jewish settlements in the area, pull in to settlement houses

7. Settlement

8. Adults and children walking in street at Efrat settlement

Jerusalem, June 1, 1998

9. David Makovsky, political analyst working at computer

10. Close up of dolls of Netanyahu and Arafat on Makovsky's computer

11. SOUNDBITE: (English) David Makovsky, political analyst

Tel Aviv, Israel, June 1, 1998

12. Michael Kleiner, walking up the stairs to his office

14. SOUNDBITE: (English) Michael Kleiner, right wing member of Parliament

15. Labour opposition leader Ehud Barak

17. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ehud Barak, Labour party leader

18. Barak in a meeting with members of the Labour party

Arabic/Eng/Nat

Two Israeli cabinet ministers have confirmed the government is to hand over three West Bank suburbs of Jerusalem to full Palestinian rule as part of an upcoming troop withdrawal.

The decision has sparked an outcry from hardline opposition leaders who allege handing over the suburbs of Anata, Beitunia and Ubeidiya is the first step towards dividing Jerusalem.

Prime Minister Ehud Barak is expected to present the maps to his security Cabinet for approval on Wednesday.

Israel troops are to withdraw from a further 6.1 percent of the West Bank.

Israeli radio says Ehud Barak is to present the withdrawal map to his security Cabinet on Wednesday and to his full Cabinet on Sunday.

The pullback is expected to take place next week.

The villages are Anata near Jerusalem, Ubeidiya near Bethlehem as well as Sourif near Hebron and Beitunia near the Palestinian city of Ramallah.

Anata, a crowded, rundown industrial suburb, directly borders Jerusalem in the east and is close to Pisgat Zeev, a Jewish West Bank settlement.

Residents of Jewish neighbourhoods adjacent to the three Palestinian suburbs said they feared the areas could become a safe haven for Palestinian militants.

But Arab inhabitants in Anata were enthusiastic about the forthcoming move.

SOUNDBITE: (Arabic)

"We are happy to see Anata become a part of the Palestinian Authority because we believe Anata will be the gate to Jerusalem which is only 3 kilometres away from us."

SUPER CAPTION: VOX POP

SOUNDBITE: (Arabic)

"Of course when the Palestinian security forces redeploy in Anata, of course life will be much better than today."

SUPER CAPTION: VOX POP

Opposition leaders have begun accusing Prime Minister Ehud Barak of secretly planning to make major concessions to the Palestinians in negotiations over the final status of the city.

The future of Jerusalem is one of four major issues to be addressed in a final peace treaty that is to be concluded September 13.

The Palestinians hope to establish their capital in east Jerusalem, the sector Israel captured from Jordan in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed to its capital.

Israel has said it would never relinquish sovereignty over all of the city.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"What happened now is very important for the city of Jerusalem and the state of Israel because on the withdrawal from these Arab villages - they are now in fact out of the borders of Jerusalem. We will fix for the future the peace borders of Jerusalem and Israel."

SUPER CAPTION: Cabinet Minister Ran Cohen

The Palestinians suspended talks last month after Israel refused to include the villages in the troop withdrawal and set a time frame for an additional pullout ahead of a final peace treaty.

Palestinian officials have welcomed the handover of three West Bank suburbs of Jerusalem to full Palestinian rule.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"Well the redeployment in Anata is a step forward and a positive thing because the neighbourhoods around Jerusalem are part of the Palestinian occupied territories and they have to be delivered to the Palestinians."

SUPER CAPTION: Ziad Abu Zayyad, Palestinian Authority Minister in Charge of Jerusalem

Cabinet Minister Haim Ramon, who is close to Barak, denied on Tuesday Israel would give up parts of the city.

But despite such assurances, the decision has angered Israeli hard liners.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"People that know the map of Jerusalem can tell you immediately that it means really giving the Palestinians neighbourhoods around Jerusalem - that are part of Jerusalem practically speaking."

SUPER CAPTION: Danny Naveh, right-wing Knesset member

The move may be one step forward in the peace-process - but could further divided support for the Israeli Prime Minister.

Anata, Sourif, Beitunia, West Bank and Jerusalem - 14 March 2000

Anata

1. Various general views of Anata village, people walking in street

2. People reading newspaper with details of withdrawal

3. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) VOXPOP

4. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) VOXPOP

Sourif

5. School sign saying Anata school for boys and pullout Sourif

6. Top shot and zoom in Sourif village - sign at entrance to Sourif

7. Various general views of village and residents

Jerusalem

8. Set up shot Cabinet Minister Ran Cohen

9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Cabinet Minister Ran Cohen

10. Set up shot Ziad Abu Zayyad, Palestinian Authority Minister in Charge of Jerusalem

11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ziad Abu Zayyad, Palestinian Authority Minister in Charge of Jerusalem

12. Set up shot Danny Naveh, right-wing Knesset member

13. SOUNDBITE: (English) Danny Naveh, right-wing Knesset member

Beitunia

14. General view Beitunia village

English/Nat

Palestinians living in parts of the West Bank are celebrating a new-felt freedom one day after Israeli troop withdrawals took place under the Wye River peace accord.

Residents of the village of Tubas were just some of those who took to the street to cheer and honk their horns marking the occasion.

Israel's pullout from three dozen towns and villages gives Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat control over an addition two percent of the West Bank and was a key element to the peace accord.

But not everyone had something to cheer about.

The night before, Palestinian cabinet members complained that of Israel's promised release of 250 additional prisoners, many were common criminals and not political detainees.

It was literally a day for dancing in the streets in the village of Tubas, part of Jenin in the West Bank, on Saturday.

One day after the first Israeli troop withdrawals there since the Wye River Middle East peace accord, residents came out in force to express their elation.

Townspeople waved Palestinian flags, honked car horns and sang to mark the momentous day.

Their village was one of three dozen which witnessed the departure of Israeli soldiers on Friday and ushered in a new feeling of autonomy and freedom.

The agreed pullout, Israel's first from occupied land in nearly two years, was a key element of the interim peace accord and one that the Palestinian side held dear.

The mayor of Jenin said the community has finally shed the mantle of occupation, which he equated to being enslaved by the Israelis.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"Occupation - it means slave, to be a slave. And so after the liberation, now we can - we will begin to feel free."

SUPER CAPTION: Diab Abu Kheizizaran, Mayor of Jenin

People young and old joined in the celebrations, which mark an important turning point for long-term Middle East relations.

The pullout gives Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat control over another two percent of the West Bank.

Many Palestinians see it as another step towards their ultimate goal of statehood, something which Arafat has pledged to achieve.

Revelers expressed feelings of hope for the future given their new sense of self-determination.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"We are looking for the best - with the coming of the Palestinian Authority in our country - we are looking for the best and feel the financial situation would be very good with the help of our God and the Palestinian Authority."

SUPER CAPTION: Vox pop

A parade featuring young performers kicked off the main part of the celebrations.

The Israeli withdrawal gives Palestinian police strengthened control over the village of Tubas.

Joining Jenin's mayor in the convoy into Tubas was the local army commander, Ziad Arafat, who waved to the crowd from his car window.

People lined the streets and shot off fireworks overhead to welcome Palestinian forces into the area.

But while local Palestinians were celebrating, their political leaders had little to cheer about regarding another part of the peace agreement.

On Friday night, a Palestinian cabinet meeting addressed Israel's promised release of Palestinian prisoners on Friday.

During the Wye negotiations, Israel agreed to release 750 Palestinian prisoners in a gesture that is mentioned neither in the accord nor in accompanying agreements.

But the cabinet members were angry that of the latest 250 released, 150 were common criminals and not political detainees, as promised.

Negotiator Saeb Erekat said the move violated the spirit of the peace accord and said letters of complaint were en route to Washington and Israel.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"We have contacted the American administration, we have contacted the Israeli government, hoping that the 150 will be soon released and we hope that in the next three weeks, the Israeli government will continue implementing their commitments - the opening of the safe passage, having an industrial estate, the transfer of five percent from area C to B and on our part, we will continue carrying out our commitments to the letter."

SUPER CAPTION: Saeb Erekat, Palestinian negotiator

The latest diplomatic flareup served as a familiar reminder that more work needs to be done in the Middle East before any real celebrations over peace progress take place.

Tubas and Hebron, West Bank - 21 November 1998

Tubas (part of Jenin)

1. Men dancing and cheering in the street

2. Various of people walking down street en masse

3. Car approaches with picture of Yasser Arafat on hood

4. Little girls shouting slogans

5. Cars drive past people with horns blaring

6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Diab Abu Kheizizaran, Mayor of Jenin

7. Wide shot of crowded road where people marching and people climbing on tractor

8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Vox pop

9. Banner hanging over road

10. Various shots boy scouts marching and playing drums

11. Long shot of cars driving past, followed by ambulance

12. Car with policemen and Palestinian army commander Ziad Arafat waving from passenger seat

13. Fireworks going off

14. Children on street with fingers waving peace sign

15. Army members marching arm in arm

16. Palestinian authority flags on rooftop

17. Wide shot of people marching down street

Hebron:

18. Cabinet meeting area exterior

19. SOUNDBITE (English) Saeb Erekat, Palestinian negotiator

20. Exterior of meeting place

English/Nat

Palestinians say they're encouraged but taking a wait-and-see attitude about a promised Israeli troop withdrawal from the West Bank.

The Israeli Cabinet voted on Sunday to go forward with a troop withdrawal, but set no date.

And it made the pullout conditional on such things as whether the Palestinians are doing more to fight terrorism.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arriving for Sunday's cabinet meeting in Jerusalem.

There was effectively only one topic on the agenda -- whether or not to give the go- ahead for a further Israeli troop withdrawal from the West Bank.

Eventually the cabinet voted "Yes" -- but set no date and re-emphasised it could depend on how strongly the Palestinians crack down on terrorism.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"It's a decision by the government to implement the second redeployment, to continue as intensely as possible in the talks with the Palestinians. It does condition the second redeployment in the fulfilment of the obligations made by the Palestinians in the Hebron agreement."

SUPER CAPTION: David Bar-Illan, adviser to Netanyahu

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, speaking before the vote, said he hoped that Israel would stick to previous agreements.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"We hope that the size of the redeployment which will be decided today according to what had been agreed up and signed in our agreement in Oslo and Oslo 2 and Hebron protocol agreements."

SUPER CAPTION: Yasser Arafat, Palestinian leader

But after the vote, an Arafat spokesman said the Palestinian leader was cautiously optimistic about the decision.

He says it was encouraging to see Israel abide by the peace agreements, but that the Palestinians have to wait and see about Israel's conditions.

But another top Palestinian official, also speaking before the vote, took a much blunter view.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"It is very clear that Netanyahu is trying to evade an internal problem, to circumvent real issues and to deflect criticisms that have been levied against him and his government from the Palestinians, from the Arabs, from the Americans and from the international community as a whole. This is entirely unacceptable and we don't believe negotiations should be conducted within the right-wing Likud camp and within the right-wing coalition in Israel."

SUPER CAPTION: Hanan Ashrawi, Palestinian Minister of Higher Education

It's not just Palestinians who are unhappy.

Right wing Israeli groups, who Netanyahu depends upon to stay in power, will be equally displeased if more concessions are handed out to the Palestinians.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"We in the land of Israel front will meet tomorrow, will study the government decision. If it is additional concessions, if it includes additional concessions we will vote a non- confidence regardless. What the left does, if the labour party joins us or doesn't join us it's a problem of the labour party."

SUPER CAPTION: Michael Kleiner. right wing politician

To make their point, some demonstrated outside the cabinet office while the debate went on.

But the vote went broadly as expected -- a commitment to the principle of pulling out, with strings attached.

Little new there in the world of Israeli-Palestinian politics.

Jerusalem, Ramallah, Halhoul, Nov 30th 1997

Jerusalem:

1. Netanyahu and various ministers arriving for the cabinet meeting

2. Netanyahu and ministers sitting around meeting table

3. Various cabinet meeting

4. SOUNDBITE: (English) David Bar-Illan, adviser to Netanyahu

Ramallah

5. Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat surrounded by guards and officials

6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Yasser Arafat, Palestinian leader

7. Arafat walks away

Halhoul, West Bank:

8. Various of area where redeployment is expected

Ramallah, West Bank:

9. Exterior shot Hanan Ashrawi's house

10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Hanan Ashrawi, Palestinian Minister of Higher Education

Jerusalem:

11. Set up shot of Michael Kleiner, right wing politician

12. SOUNDBITE: Michael Kleiner. right wing politician

13. Wide shot of right wing demo outside the cabinet office while the cabinet was discussing the redeployment

14. Close shots of the demonstrators, with banners

The Arab-Israeli Conflict vol 6 (1994-2006)

keyword-clipreel

(Vol 1 = GEN0898, Vol 2 = GEN0919, Vol 3 = GEN0922, Vol 4 = GEN0926, Vol 5 = GEN0934

All Natural Sound and Colour except where stated.

10:00:00

W062590

G03019401

WTN

Various Locations - 28 December 1993-2 January 1994

Negotiating teams, led by Israeli FM, Peres, talk in Cairo to try to break the deadlock over Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Anti-PLO Arab factions gather in Damascus to try to settle differences in their struggle against peace accord. Clashes in Gaza City with Israeli troops and Islamic resistance movement, Hamas. In Nablus, Fatah supporters rally to celebrate anniversary of group's foundation. Jewish settlers block the main N-S highway in Jordan Valley to protest the peace accord

Cairo, Egypt - 28 December 1993

Ext meeting place

Israeli FM, Shimon Peres meeting with Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak and other officials

Damascus, Syria - 30 December 1993

GVs Palestinian delegations

PAN round table

Damascus Hamas spokesman, Ibrahim Ghosha speaking against agreement

Gaza City - 1 January 1994

Stones thrown at soldiers on street: WS street as youths throw stones

Soldiers fire from back of jeep

Soldiers tackle and kick stone-thrower

Nablus, West Bank - 1 January 1994

Masked Palestinians escort crowded jeep through Nablus street

Armed youths in jeeps

Man among marching Palestinians fires into the air

Na'ama Settlement, Jordan Valley - 2 January 1994

Man throws Palestinian flag into burning bus

10:01:47

W066232

Israel - Rabin Ready For Peace With Syria

WTN

West Jerusalem - 23 January 1994

Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin said on Sunday (23/1) he was ready to negotiate peace with Syrian President Hafez al-Assad anywhere on earth and without prior conditions.

Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin walks onto podium and prepares to speak

Cutaway of audience (over Rabin's speech)

SOT Rabin: "I'm ready to meet president Assad in Damascus, in Jerusalem, in any place on earth."

Likud protestors with donkeys (symbolising likud's belief that anyone who would sign peace deals with the Syrians is a donkey)

Wide shot of protestors with donkeys

10:02:07

W065949

Israelis & Palestinians Near Agreement

WTN

Khan Yunis and Gaza Strip - 27 January 1994

Israel 6 weeks late withdrawal - Palestinians protest

Khan Yunis, Gaza

Burning tyre

Palestinian flags

Gaza Strip

Palestinian gunman in car

Car driving off.

10:02:22

W066029

Switzerland - Middle-East Talks

WTN

Davos, Switzerland - 29 January 1994

A senior member of the Palestine Liberation Organization said that negotiators had reached a compromise on final terms for an Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and Jericho.

Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres pan to PLO leader Yasser Arafat

Peres and Arafat getting up and shaking hands

Peres english sot "shaking hands in day and negotiate at night"

Peres "we like to work late"

10:03:15

W064987

West Bank - Shooting

WTN

West Bank - 25 February 1994 and file

The Middle East peace process was thrown into disarray when an American born Jewish physician, Baruch Goldstein, massacred dozens of Arabs and wounded scores at a Hebron Mosque. The gunman fired an automatic rifle and threw two grenades as worshippers knelt in prayer. Soldiers shot dead at least 12 Palestinians in protests after the dawn massacre, the biggest single killing of Arabs since Israel captured the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 1967.

Hebron - 25 February 1994

Blood on path to mosque

Ibrahim mosque

Troops outside mosque

Ambulance arrives at hospital

Man rushed into hospital on stretcher

Victim in hospital

Hebron - 18 November 1993

Baruch Goldstein talking with others

Goldstein and others

Occupied Territories - 25 February 1994

Palestinians rioting in the street

Stones thrown at police

Soldier fires shot

Wounded Palestinian carried off

Soldiers running down street

Jerusalem - 25 February 1994

Palestinian peace negotiator, Faisal Husseini sot: what we are asking now and immediately from the israeli authority - to disarm all the settlers in the occupied territories

Jeep arrives at temple mount

People throwing stones

Soldiers fire tear gas

Reinforcements brought in

10:05:00

W064973

Israel - Jerusalem Protest Against Killings

WTN

Jerusalem - 25 February 1994

Palestinian youths demonstrated in protest at the killing of at least 48 Palestinians in a mosque in Hebron.

Soldiers firing

Palestinians throwing stones from roof of al aqsa mosque

Palestinians throwing rocks

Soldier fires gun

10:05:28

W064974

West Bank: Shooting

WTN

Jerusalem - 25 February 1994

A Jewish settler firing an automatic rifle massacred dozens of Muslim worshippers kneeling at a mosque, then apparently killed himself. The massacre ignited riots through the Israeli-occupied territories of the Middle East.

Police with riot shields walking along wall

Palestinians throwing stones

Throwing rocks

Orthodox jews watching from balcony

Arabs on top of wall

Israelis firing tear gas

Mullahs trying to get youths off wall

Hebron - File 18 November 1993

Still frame of Baruch Goldstein

10:06:21

Black

10:07:37

W065049

Egypt/Cairo - Students Protest

WTN

Cairo - 27 February 1994

Egyptian police fired tear gas at hundreds of angry students and hit some with batons to prevent them marching on the Israeli embassy in protest at the Hebron mosque massacre

Riot police

Police with shields marching

Protesters pushing fake israeli flags in front of them

Protesters burn israeli flags

Protesters shouting

Waving fists and copies of koran

Riot police advance with batons

10:08:28

W063416

Israel/Gaza - 400 Palestinians Freed

WTN

Nahal Oz, Corder between Israel and Gaza - 1 March 1994

Israel freed 400 Palestinian prisoners in the Gaza strip in their bid to save peace talks which the PLO suspended over the slaughter of Moslem worshippers by a Jewish

settler.

Border crossing with crowds

VS buses with released prisoners waiting to cross into Gaza

Palestinians leaning out of bus windows

VS palestinians boarding buses for journey to Gaza

10:09:02

W063452

Gaza - Hamas Rally

WTN

Gaza Strip - 2 March 1994

Thousands of supporters of the Islamic resistance movement, Hamas, held two big rallies, one in Gaza City and one in Khan Yunis, to mourn the victims of Friday's Hebron massacre. Demonstrators held big black and green flags and banners. In Khan Yunis, armed men fired several rounds of bullets in the air to illustrate their defiance of the Israeli army which has kept the Gaza Strip under strict military closure since Friday.

Minaret with flag on top

Amplified voice summoning the faithful

GVs of rally

Palestinians dressed as Orthodox Jews in re-enactment of the Hebron massacre

Moslems praying in re-enactment

"Jews" shooting them in the re-enactment

10:09:52

W063555

Israel/Occupied Territories - Hebron Aftermath

WTN

Hebron and Gaza - 14 March 1994

The Israeli army turned back hundreds of Israeli Arab citizens heading to Hebron on to pray for victims of a mosque massacre on the Moslem feast of Eid al-Fitr. Hundreds of Palestinians took to the streets of Gaza on Monday in celebrations for the three-day muslim holiday Id Al-Fitr. The marchers, mostly supporters of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO), fired shots in the air, shouted slogans, and waved flags.

Hebron

Wide-shot of Israeli security forces at a checkpoint into Hebron

Israeli soldier explaining to a group of Israeli Arabs why they can not go into Hebron

Israeli Arabs, who are attempting to visit their relatives in Hebron, waiting by their buses

Gaza

Palestinian militant marching with loudhailer (the demonstration is held to coincide with the three-day muslim holiday Eid al-fidr)

Masked Palestinians standing in file

Small child with gun

Palestinians marching down street

Palestinian firing gun into air

Rear views of marchers

Demonstrators marching towards camera

10:10:25

W066549

Egypt - Agreement Signed

WTN

Cairo, Egypt - 4-5 May 1994

PLO leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin signed a historic agreement on limited Palestinian self-rule for Gaza and Jericho at a glittering ceremony in Cairo. Arafat signed the 200-page document first on an ornate marble-top table before 2,500 foreign dignitaries and Egyptian celebrities.

Wide shot of group on stage

Pan of group

PLO Yasser Arafat walking over to books

Arafat signing

Cutaway

Rabin signing

Rabin and Arafat shaking hands

Rabin to podium

Rabin sot on the remaining problems of the Middle East situations and to overcome 100 years of animosity and bloodshed

10:12:21

W066652

Egypt - Palestinian Police Leave For Gaza

WTN

Rafiah, Egypt - 7 May 1994

Hundreds of members of the new Palestinian police force left their Egyptian training camp for duty in Gaza. They were the vanguard of an Arab security force that will replace Israelis as law enforcers in the newly declared autonomous zone.

WS of police force standing in line

CU police commander

MS commander with force in background

Cheering police showing v-sign

Trucks driving past

10:12:50

W066773

West Bank - Israelis Hand Over Jericho

WTN

Jericho - 13 May 1994

Israel handed over Jericho to jubilant Palestinian police, its first withdrawal from the West Bank in 27 years of occupation. Seven busloads of Palestinian police crossed the Jordan River at the Allenby bridge to take control of the town. By mid-morning, the Israeli army had turned over all 20 government offices as well as the main military headquarters to the Palestinian army, now known as the Palestinian National Security Forces.

Early morning scenes of palestinian police and local people, with hugs and embraces, as old Israeli police station is handed over

Policeman holds up gun

Day shot of Palestinian flag over police station

10:13:18

W066792

Gaza - Palestinian Takeover Celebrated

WTN

Jabaliya, Gaza Strip - 14 May 1994

The Palestinian police force took over three Israeli army installations in Jabaliya refugee camp and a fourth one in Gaza city, marking the beginning of Palestinian control over the city. Hundreds of people were waiting for the police force as they walked through the police station in Gaza and the military command of the Israeli army in the Jabaliya refugee camp. The event had particular significance because Jabaliya was the birthplace of the Intifada, the Palestinian campaign to expel Israeli troops from the occupied territories.

Army antenna with Palestinian on top hoisting the national flag

People cheering

Happy people distribute sweets among others

Women and children with guns

Policeman with Palestinian flag

10:13:55

W068442

Israel - Police Clash With Protestors

WTN

Jerusalem - 1 July 1994

Police clashed with demonstrators seeking to block the main entrance into Jerusalem. Several hundred right-wing Israelis gathered at the city limits, to protest against the visit of PLO leader Yasser Arafat to Gaza.

Demonstrators

Pushing and shoving

Police lifting protestors

Demonstrator SOT that she is not going to sit by and let a mass-murderer go by. This is not a Palestinian state

Pan chanting demonstrators

Poster of Arafat that describes him as a murderer

10:15:28

W068449

Gaza / Egypt - Arafat Arrives

WTN

Gaza - 1 July 1994

PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat, in his first speech inside a Palestinian self-rule area, vowed to take his struggle from Gaza to the holy city of Jerusalem claimed by Israel as its eternal capital. "From Gaza we will go to Hebron and Nablus and Tulkarm and Beit Jalla and Beit Sahour and finally, at last, Jerusalem," he told thousands of Palestinians gathered in Gaza City.

Arafat's motorcade into rafah

Arafat on shoulders of supporters

Security

Cars with palestinian flags

Huge crowd

Security

Arafat being mobbed by supporters

Arafat along through huge crowd of supporters

Guns fired in air

Um Jihad in black and white dress waving

Huge crowd

Arafat through crowd

Top shot of huge ecstatic crowd

Arafat at podium

Arafat speaking

Huge crowd

10:17:37

W068450

Gaza - Arafat Kisses Ground

WTN

Gaza - 1 July 1994

Yasser Arafat made a triumphant entry into the Gaza Strip capping a 27-year odyssey from guerrilla fighter to government leader.

Arafat out of limo and greeted

Arafat kneels down and kisses ground

10:18:17

W068396

West Bank - Arafat's Tumultuous Welcome

WTN

Jericho and Kfar Edomin, West Bank - 5 July 1994

PLO chairman Yasser Arafat, inaugurating his first self-rule administration, quickly put senior officials to work on plans to create housing and jobs in the impoverished Gaza Strip.

Jericho

Arafat disembarking helicopter pull out to crowd

Crowd waiting to greet arafat

CU arafat walking through crowd

Arafat surrounded by soldiers

WS assembled crowd

Arafat taking salute

Marchpast of troops and banners

Arafat kissing Orthodox Jews

CU Arafat kissing Jews

WS assembled crowd zoom to arafat

Arafat speaking at podium

Crowd cheering and throwing flowers

Arafat swearing in new ministers

Kfar Edomin

Jewish settlers' roadblock of fire outside Jericho

CU tyres burning in street

Jericho

crowds celebrating in street

10:19:21

W069607

Jordan/Israel - Inauguration of Border Crossing

WTN

Border crossing between Jordan and Israel, 3 km north of the Red Sea ports of Aqaba (Jordan) and Eilat (Israel) - 8 August 1994

A new land crossing between former enemies Israel and Jordan was to be inaugurated by US Secretary of State Warren Christopher and dignitaries from both countries. Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Crown Prince Hassan ibn Talal of Jordan were to attend the opening of the 3.5 kilometre (two mile) stretch of road between the resort of Eilat, on the Israeli side, and the Red Sea port of Aqaba, on the Jordanian side.

WS border crossing and tent

Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, Jordan's crown prince Hassan , US. secretary of state Warren Christopher preparing themselves in front of the ribbon

Rabin and Hassan cut ribbon

10:20:12

W070500

Gaza - Arafat Greets Jews In Hebrew

WTN

Gaza - 1 September 1994

The PLO chairman, Yasser Arafat, wished the Jewish people a happy new year in hebrew, following his meeting with the Israeli Housing Minister Binyamin ben-Eliezar, at the PLO office in Gaza City. Arafat gave his blessings during a joint press conference in which he and the minister briefed journalists on the obstacles still faced by negotiators in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

PLO chairman Yasser Arafat shaking hands with Israeli minister of infrastructure, Binyamin ben-Eliezar

Arafat wishing the jewish people a happy new year in hebrew

10:20:39

W072765

Israel - Tel-Aviv Bus Bomb Outrage Reactions

WTN

Tel Aviv - 19 October 1994

Israel's army chief said a Moslem Arab suicide bomber may have carried out a bus bombing that killed at least 16 people in the heart of Tel Aviv.

Aerials of explosion site

GVs wreckage from explosion

Weeping woman being consoled by people

10:21:25

W073393

Israel And Jordan Sign Historic Peace Treaty

Pool

Araba, Jordan - 26 October 1994

(Video as incoming)

Israel and Jordan ended 46 years of hostility by signing a peace treaty witnessed by US President Bill Clinton at the Arava desert border crossing south of the Dead Sea.

The prime ministers of both countries signed the historic document to the applause of nearly 5,000 guests. Yitzhak Rabin signed for Israel while King Hussein looked on as his prime minister Abdul-Salam al-Majali signed for Jordan. The treaty, backed by all Israelis except the extreme right wing, ended a 46-year-old state of war between Jordan and Israel. However, it was condemned by the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and Muslim militants on both sides of the border. The signing ended

with the release of 10,000 balloons in the colours of the Israeli and Jordanian flags.

WS podium.

Rabin, Clinton and Hussein on podium.

CU Hussein.

Flower girls on stage.

English SOT Rabin: "Time has come not only to dream peace but to realize it."

Signing of treaty.

10:22:08

W074244

Gaza Strip - Palestinian Police Shoot 13 Hamas

WTN

Gaza - 18 November 1994

Hamas, the radical Palestinian Muslim fundamentalist movement, pledged to retaliate against Yasser Arafat's Palestine National Authority after its followers were slain by Palestinian police in Gaza. Thirteen people were killed and about 200 wounded in Gaza City earlier in the day when Arafat's police opened fire on a crowd of Hamas Islamic militants after the demonstrators surrounded police headquarters, the central jail and other Palestinian government buildings, hurling stones and shouting insults. The violence was the most serious confrontation between Arafat's self-rule administration and fundamentalist hardliners opposed to the peace process with Israel. The self-rule government has administered Gaza, a Hamas bastion, and the West Bank town of Jericho since May. The confrontation raised questions about the future of the peace process with Israel. Tensions have been building between the PLO and Hamas as a result of a series of suicide bombings and shootings aimed at Israeli targets, including the Tel Aviv bus bombing on 19 October Oct. 19 that claimed 22 lives. Israel demanded that Arafat act to stop the bloodshed or Israel would freeze the expansion of autonomy into the rest of the West Bank. Arafat rounded up about 160 Islamic militants after a suicide bombing last week in which three soldiers were killed.

Gunfire.

People fleeing.

People running in chaos.

Police firing weapons.

Running men carrying away wounded.

Man with bloody leg being carried.

Fence being pulled down.

Arafat praying.

Arafat celebrating and dancing.

10:23:07

1419

Norway - Nobel Peace Prize

APTV

Oslo - 10 December 1994

Nobel peace prize winners Yasser Arafat and Shimon Peres are using the ceremony in Oslo to step up their negotiations. The P-L-O leader and the Israeli Foreign Minister held private talks just hours before receiving their prizes.

Anti-PLO demonstrations

Shimon Peres and Yasser Arafat arrive at press conference

10:23:45

W018490

Israel/West Bank - Settlement

WTN

El Khader, Near Ephrat, West Bank - 2 January 1995

Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin decided to halt work on an expanding Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank that has threatened to wreck autonomy talks with the Palestinians.

WS of bulldozers on disputed land.

Israeli soldiers on standby.

Palestinians staging sit-in.

Bulldozer on hill.

10:24:10

W019481

Israel - Explosion

WTN

Beit Lid, Near Netanya, Israel - 22 January 1995

President Ezer Weizman, in an open challenge to Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, called for a suspension of peace talks with the PLO after Islamic suicide bombers killed 19 people in Israel. Weizman was speaking after suicide bombers killed 19 people and wounded 62 at a crowded bus stop north of Tel Aviv.

Blood-splattered ground and abandoned belongings.

Blown-out bus.

Emergency crews at site.

Body being carried out in sheet.

Man puts sheet over body.

Man picking up debris behind police line.

SOT of Rabin saying some Palestinians are attempting to halt the peace process

10:24:44

W021657

West Bank - Palestinians Kill Two Hebron Settler

WTN

Hebron - 19-20 March 1995

Israeli soldiers clamped a curfew on the West Bank town of Hebron following the killing of two Jewish settlers by Palestinian gunmen. More than 100,000 Arabs were confined to their homes by the Israeli army, to protect them from revenge attacks by Jewish settlers.

Aftermath shooting scene.

Crowds.

GVs crime scene.

WS mosque from where the shots were allegedly fired.

Israeli soldier patrolling rooftop

10:25:14

W022380

Lebanon/Israel - Rocket Attacks / Aftermath

WTN

Lebanon and Israel - 31 March 1995

Katyusha rockets fired by guerrillas in south Lebanon hit northern Israel and killed one Israeli and wounded nine, Israel Radio reported. Three Israeli helicopters then struck the south Lebanon villages of Aziyeh, Zabkine and Haniyeh, moving from one village to the next to carry out the punitive retaliation. The villages are inhabited by Shi'ite Muslims and are controlled by the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militants who oppose the Middle East peace process.

Imla Tuffah region, Southern Lebanon

Wrecked car on roadside.

Burned-out remains of car.

People looking at wreckage.

.

Nahariya, Northern Israel

Police officer alighting from car.

Tracking shot along ground, showing property damaged by rocket.

Kiryat Shmona, Northern Israel

Youth with blood-stained clothes.

Man with bleeding arm.

10:25:42

W022482

Gaza - Suicide Bomb Attacks

WTN

Kfar Darom, Gaza Strip - 9 April 1995

Seven Israelis were killed and 45 injured in two separate suicide bomb attacks in Gaza. In the first attack near the town of Kfar Darom, an Islamic militant drove a van loaded with explosives into an Israeli bus, killing six people. Two hours later, on the same road, a Palestinian car drove into an Israeli convoy of several cars and exploded, killing one Israeli. Representatives of Hamas and Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.

WS side of bus.

Interior showing seats.

PULL-OUT to show driver's seat.

CU blown-up side of bus.

WS bombing scene.

Van used by bomber.

10:26:04

W022829

West Bank - Israelis Kill Hamas Trio

WTN

Hebron - 16 April 1995

Israeli troops ambushed and killed three members of the Muslim militant movement Hamas in the heart of the West Bank city of Hebron. State-run Israel Radio said the Hamas militants, wanted for attacks in the Hebron area during the last 18 months, were killed by undercover troops disguised as Arabs. It said guns, grenades and weapons magazines were found in the vehicle of the Hamas fighters.

Hillside scene of shooting.

Corpse on stretcher at rear of ambulance.

Group of Israeli Army soldiers watching.

Soldiers around militants' car.

Bullet holes in side of car.

10:26:25

W024712

West Bank - Troops Blast Hideout And Kill Suspect Muslim Militant

WTN

Hebron - 2 June 1995

Israeli troops fired anti-tank missiles at a suspected Muslim militant hideout in the West Bank during a 10-hour siege. One Palestinian was killed. After the raid, the army placed a curfew on Hebron, a town of 80,000 Palestinians and 450 Jewish settlers, to prevent street protests and revenge attacks by supporters of the militant Islam organisation, Hamas. Witnesses said soldiers had pulled one body from the rubble of the house in Hebron and later demolished the remains with a bulldozer. The Israeli army acted on suspicion that wanted Muslim guerrillas were hiding in the premises. Hebron has been a hotbed of violence and is a Muslim militant stronghold.

Israeli soldiers moving in on house.

Soldiers on rooftop opposite suspected Muslim hideout.

Suspected hideout with smoke coming from premises, audio gunfire.

Israeli soldiers crouching on ground.

Explosion from rocket at front of house.

Suspected militants (unseen) returning fire.

Bulldozer moves in to demolish premises.

WS premises and another explosion.

10:27:13

W025355

Gaza - Palestinians Mourn Fatah Leaders

WTN

Jebaliya, Gaza Strip - 14 June 1995

In the Jebaliya refugee camp near Gaza City, funerals were held for Hassan Abu Furaya and Abdel Nasser Abu Salah. They died together with Abu Hatla. Both men were

members of Fatah's "Force 17", a unit responsible for protecting PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat. A PLO spokesman said both were trying to help Abu Hatla cross the border into Israel. Near the West Bank town of Ramallah on Wednesday afternoon, Palestinians and Jewish settlers held separate small protest demonstrations.

Crowd at funerals of Abu Furaya and Abu Salah.

People digging graves.

Wreath being placed.

10:27:36

W026869

Israel - Suicide Attack On Bus Leaves Six Dead

WTN

Tel Aviv - 24 July 1995

An explosion ripped through a commuter bus in Tel Aviv killing at least six people and wounding more than 30. Shortly after the attack the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas claimed one of its members carried out the bombing. The explosion occurred at 8.45am during the rush hour, near the Tel Aviv Diamond Exchange in the suburb of Ramat Gan.

Back-shot of bombed-out bus.

CU body on ground.

Zoom into interior of bus and police checking wreckage.

10:27:51

W027387

Israel - Scuffles As Jews Besiege Mosque

WTN

Jerusalem - 6 August 1995

Israeli security forces sealed off Jerusalem's Temple Mount after dozens of Jews tried to force their way into the compound controlled by Muslims. Border guards repeatedly shoved back extremists demanding the right to pray on Temple Mount - called Haram esh-Sharif in Arabic. Jerusalem police chief Aryeh Amit said the site would remain closed until further notice "to calm things down and avoid violence and clashes." Two Jews allowed into the site had to be quickly escorted out by police

after being surrounded by angry Muslims. "Tension is mounting in the Old City," Amit admitted as Arab mosques called on the faithful to turn out to protect the haram.

Aerial Temple Mount, zoom in to Wailing Wall.

Procession of Jewish "Temple Mount Faithful" approach complex.

Pan Wailing Wall with thousands of Jews praying.

Muslims entering al-Aqsa mosque.

Green door entrance.

Jews press up against police.

Scuffles and pushing.

10:28:32

W028783

West Bank - Girls School Attacked

WTN

Hebron - 10 September 1995

Jewish settlers invaded a Palestinian school for girls in the West Bank city of Hebron and beat up the headmistress. Palestinian witnesses said three settlers barged into the school in the city centre, attacked the principal and students and broke doors and windows.

Schoolgirls marching with flag

Girls run in panic, man follows with flag

Security force soldiers among girls

Injured girls being carried

Men running with injured girls

10:29:04

W029485

USA - Palestinian Self-Rule Extension To Be Signed

WTN

Washington - 28 September 1995

Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization were to sign a historic self-rule accord for the West Bank at the White House. Bill Clinton began the day's proceedings by meeting separately with Yasser Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin at the White House ahead of the signing ceremony. Talking to reporters as his talks with Arafat began, Clinton stressed the US commitment to the Middle East peace process. "Now that they have taken this other important step, as they take successive steps, we will try to make sure each of these steps succeeds and we build on it," he said. But the PLO leader had a word of caution saying that the peace process had many enemies and stressing its need for support to overcome terror tactics aimed at destroying it. The Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin said:"I believe what has happened in the last two years is remarkable progress towards tranquility and stability and peace.

Arafat and Clinton presser

WS presser

SOT Arafat says the peace process has many enemies, it is the peace of the brave, we need help to overcome terror

Presser Rabin and Clinton

10:29:42

W030640

Gaza - Angry Reaction To Shakaki Assassination

WTN

Gaza - 29 October 1995

Palestinian militants, who are opposed to the Israeli-PLO peace process, vowed to avenge the assassination of their leader. Islamic Jihad leader Fathi Shakaki was killed in Sliema, Malta, on Thursday (26/10). He was shot outside a hotel by a gunman on a motorbike. The Jihad claims the killer was an agent of the Israeli secret service, Mossad. The organisation says it will avenge Shakaki's death with attacks on Israeli targets around the world.

Man in crowd holds up photo of shakaki with chanting

Lighting US and Israeli flags

Angry man chanting

Flags on fire

10:29:55

17119

Israel - Rabin Assassination: Last Speech at Rally

Pool

Tel Aviv, Israel. - 4 November 1995

The last speech made by Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was a call to pro-peace activists for continued progress in reaching a political settlement in the Middle East .Within an hour the Prime Minister was dead, gunned down by three bullets as he left the rally. Rabin was about to get into his car to leave when the gunman fired the bullets from a close distance, hitting Rabin in the back and stomach. A suspect, a right-wing law student, was in custody. Rabin was taken to Tel Aviv's Ichilov Hospital where he died about an hour later on the operating table.

Various demonstrators with banners and placards

SOUNDBITE: Rabin (Hebrew)

"Good evening, good week. Let me say that I'm getting excited as well. I would like to thank each and every one of you that stood here against violence and for peace. This government that I have the privilege of leading...."

Close-up of Palestinian and Israeli flags

10:30:37

W030934

Israel - Assassination Yitzhak Rabin

WTN

Tel Aviv - 5 November 1995

(Audio as incoming)

A day after Israeli PM, Yitzhak Rabin, was assassinated by an extremist Jew, Israeli police and the domestic intelligence service Shin Beth were under fire for their failure to protect Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin from an assassin's bullets. Rabin was shot by a 27 year old student as he was leaving a peace rally in Tel Aviv. Israeli Cabinet ministers met in an emergency meeting after the shooting and announced Shimon Peres would step in as acting prime minister The death of Rabin has thrown doubts on the future of the Middle East Peace process but Peres stated he was certain Rabin's last wish would be to continue the peace process

GVs security outside hospital

SOT Israeli health minister Ephraim Sneh outside the hospital announcing in english the death of prime minister Rabin

GVs roundtable of cabinet emergency meeting

CU of Rabin with Peres singing at the peace rally before Rabin was shot

10:31:40

17145

Israel - Rabin Assassination : Arafat Reaction

APTV

Gaza - 5 November 1995

SOUNDBITE: (English) Yasser Arafat

"I am very saddened and very shocked for this awful and terrible crime. Against one of the brave leaders of Israel and the peace makers".

10:32:05

17229

Israel - Rabin Assassination : Grieving Mourners at Funeral

APTV

6 November 1995

Men moving casket into jeep to go to funeral grounds

Leah Rabin greeting someone at funeral grounds

AUDIO: Siren sounding as soldiers salute and funeral-goers and Israelis observe a moments silence

10:32:39

17213

Israel - Rabin Assassination : Alleged Killer Appears in Court

APTV

Tel Aviv - 6 November 1995

The alleged killer of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin has appeared in court in Tel-Aviv, where he was remanded in custody for 15 days. Police say 27 year-old Yigal Amir has confessed to the killing. There was intense security at Tel Aviv's main courtroom for the appearance of the suspected assassin of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. Yigal Amir was hustled into the court surrounded by police and soldiers. Unshaven and handcuffed, the slightly built Amir was brought before Magistrate Dan Arbel. He told the judge he killed Rabin to stop the peace process. The 27 year old law and computer science student said Rabin was giving Israel away to the Arabs.

Amir being led in surrounded by police

10:32:50

W031026

Israel - Rabin's Death Aftermath/ Raviv Arrested

WTN

Jerusalem and Tel Aviv - 8 November 1995

Israel arrested a Jewish extremist leader in connection with the murder of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin by a young Israeli law student. Police are trying to determine if Rabin's confessed killer, 25-year-old Yigal Amir, and his brother, who is being held as an accomplice, were part of a right wing conspiracy. They arrested Avishai Raviv, leader of the militant right wing group Eyal. Eyal is the youth movement of Kach, a banned anti-Arab group.

Hertzl cemetery, Jerusalem:

Rabin's flower-covered grave

Rabin's photo on grave

Tel Aviv

Avishai Raviv seated in courtroom between guards

CU handcuffs on Raviv's wrists

CU Raviv's face

WS Raviv in courtroom

10:33:08

W032591

West Bank - Opening Of By-Pass Round Bethlehem

WTN

Bethlehem - 20 December 1995

Israeli authorities opened a by-pass road around Bethlehem so Jewish settlers living south of the town can reach Jerusalem without passing through Palestinian territory.

CU of town, pullout to show digger and new road

WS of new road and cars driving

WS of Palestinian flags along road

Shot of man putting up flag on side of house

CU of a garlanded VW Beetle

WS of flag on steeple

10:33:39

W032661

West Bank - Israeli Soldiers Leave Bethlehem

WTN

Bethlehem - 21 December 1995

Israeli soldiers evacuated Bethlehem, leaving the biblical birthplace of Jesus to celebrating Palestinian police and thousands of dancing residents in time for Christmas. As the last Israeli border troops left the town without major incident, thousands of people celebrated in Manger Square, dancing and singing while fireworks lit the night sky.

WS Israeli jeeps departing

MS jeeps depart, pull out to overview

MS Israeli soldiers wave out of jeep

WS fireworks over Bethlehem

WS older men in traditional dress dance in circle and clap

MS man waves Palestinian flag

10:34:18

W032685

West Bank - Palestinians Raise Flag In Bethlehem

WTN

Bethlehem - 22 December 1995

Palestinian flag-raising on roof

10:34:26

W032718

West Bank - Arrival Yasser Arafat In Bethlehem

WTN

Bethlehem - 23 December 1995

PLO chairman Yasser Arafat arrived in Bethlehem and was greeted by a crowd of thousands celebrating the city's first Christmas, for many years, under Palestinian rule.

Church bells peeling

Arafat waves victory sign to cheering crowd

WS chanting crowd

Arafat addressing crowd saying: "Jesus, the Palestinian, peace be upon him."

10:34:52

W053604

West Bank - Bomb Maker Killed

WTN

Nablus - 5 January 1996

The Hamas Islamic movement's master bomb maker Yehiya Ayash was reportedly shot dead by Israeli security forces in the Gaza Strip.

WS family home

CU photo pull out to ms

MS family members sit around and listen to radio

MS mother wailing

10:35:12

W053560

Gaza - Hamas Mourners Hit By Gunshots

WTN

Gaza - 6 January 1996

Crying for vengeance, thousands of supporters of the Hamas Islamic militant group marched behind the coffin of Yehiya Ayash in Palestinian-ruled Gaza. Hamas guerillas saluted Ayash by firing automatic weapons into the air but accidentally hit four mourners.

WS crowd of mourning palestinians

WS crowd taken from roof top

MS of crowd carrying coffin

Man fires gun into crowd

CU more gunfire

10:35:39

W053633

West Bank - Arafat Speaks Out

WTN

Dura, West Bank - 7 January 1996

PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat directly accused Israel of assassinating the suspected Hamas bomb maker Yehiya Ayash, who died in an explosion on Friday (5/1). He spoke at a Palestinian election campaign rally at the West Bank town of Dura.

SOT of Arafat in Arabic, from window ledge

SOT in Arabic, CU of Arafat.

10:35:52

W053801

Israel - Yigal Amir Court Case

WTN

Tel Aviv - 14 January 1996

The confessed assassin of Yitzhak Rabin and two others were formally charged in a Tel Aviv court of conspiracy to murder the Israeli prime minister. Yigal Amir, his brother Hagai and friend Dror Adani were also accused of planning to carry out anti-Palestinian attacks with weapons which they had amassed, court sources said.

Ext of courthouse building.

MS of Amir being brought into courtroom surrounded by security and led to his seat.

Pullout of court symbol to show courtroom.

MS of Amir's brother and other defendant led to seats.

MS of counsel talking to Amir.

10:36:34

W055061

Gaza - Inauguration Of Arafat

WTN

Gaza City - 12 February 1996

PLO leader Yasser Arafat took the oath of office as president of the Palestinian Authority, in a solitary ceremony that emphasized his personal grip on power.

WS arafat at lectern

Upsot Arafat speaks non-English

Arafat speaks with his right hand on koran

Applause arafat kisses dignitaries

Members of new parliament congratulate Arafat

Outside legislative council band plays

CU Arafat marches to band

Palestinian police dance in the streets of Gaza city

CU man dance stick

10:37:17

W055586

Israel - At Least 25 Killed In Bomb Attacks

WTN

Jerusalem - 25 February 1996

Palestinian Islamic militants blew up a packed Jerusalem bus and a group of soldiers in southern Israel in twin suicide attacks that killed 25 people and wounded 80. The coordinated attacks were the deadliest suicide bombing in Israel's history. Militants of the fundamentalist Islamic Resistance Movement HAMAS claimed the bombings in a phone call to Israel radio and a leaflet distributed in the Palestinian territories, saying the attacks were in revenge for the January murder of Yehiya Ayash, mastermind

of an earlier HAMAS suicide bombing campaign.

WS zoom in on skeleton of bus

MS investigator picks through remains of bus

WS looking down on bus

MS body lying on ground

WS body lying by bus

10:37:34

W055834

Israel - Jerusalem Bomb

WTN

Jerusalem - 3 March 1996

Israel's Prime Minister, Shimon Peres, declared all-out war against the Palestinian militant group HAMAS, saying he would not rest until it had been completely destroyed.

Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, described the bombing as a "disaster" and announced the banning of armed radical groups in Gaza and the West Bank, including the armed wing of HAMAS, the Ezzedin al-Qassam. Amid scenes of anguish, Israelis started burying the victims of the bomb.

WS and pan of bus bombing scene

Soldiers in wreckage of bus, bodies visible

WS wreckage of bus

Forensic team sifting through debris

10:37:49

W056156

Israel - Blockade Extends To Coastline

WTN

Gaza - 8-9 March 1996

Israel tightened its "closure" of self-rule areas, sealing off the Palestinian Autonomy's coast line in a bid to prevent wanted Islamic Jihad and Hamas members from getting out of Gaza via the sea. The sea blockade even extended to preventing local Gaza fisherman from heading out to sea...another crippling blow to the ailing Palestinian economy.

MS concrete barrier being loaded into place

MS Israel flag, pulls to ws of concrete border

WS single man walking done empty road, with concrete borders on the side

10:38:02

W056890

Israel - Life Sentence For Rabin's Murderer

WTN

Israel - 27 March 1996

Yigal Amir, the Jewish radical who assassinated prime minister Yitzhak Rabin to halt the Palestinian peace process, was sentenced to life in jail, the harshest punishment allowed in Israel. Amir, 25, received an additional six years in prison for aggravated assault against one of Rabin's bodyguards, Yoram Rubin, who was wounded in the November 4 shooting.

Yigal Amir walks into court

CU amir smiling

WS courtroom, judge speaking

CU Judge Edmond Levy speaking

CU Amir on monitor in press room

SOT Prime Minister Peres "For me it was a reminder of the terrible night when I saw one of the greatest people of our time fall down innocently just because he led his people in the right direction

10:36:47

W057618

Lebanon - Bomb Attacks Continue

WTN

Various Locations - 16 April 1996

Israeli aircraft and artillery killed at least six Lebanese in attacks during an offensive against Hezbollah guerrillas that escalated despite diplomatic efforts to end the violence. Despite Israel's blitz, Iranian-backed Hezbollah kept up Katyusha rocket attacks on northern Israel, firing a barrage that hit an Israeli settlement near Naharia. Homes were damaged and several people were wounded.

Northern Israel:

WS israeli artillery firing into southern lebanon

Southern Lebanon

Israeli warplanes dropping missile-deflectors over port city of tyre

Various explosions near tyre

Nabityeh, Southern Lebanon

Various of shells exploding on outskirts of Nabityeh and vicinity

10:39:21

W057813

Lebanon - Shelling Aftermath

WTN

Lebanon - 19 April 1996

Israel pushed ahead with its military offensive into southern Lebanon, following its disastrous bombing blitz of a UN refugee camp which killed at least 75 people.

Qana

WS UN helicopter above Qana base, pan to UN soldier on tank

CU soldier working in wreckage at qana base

MS soldier throws stakes into fire

Nabatiyeh

WS men walk through rubble in streets of Nabatiyeh

WS man sitting in street handles worry beads

CU loading bodies into truck

WS bodies in bags inside container

Near Tyre

SOT: ws near Tyre israeli gunship off the coast firing

Two men running towards Lebanese army checkpoint

Zoom into smoke following bomb-blast in distance.

WS injured girl in hospital

CU grieving woman

CU face injured girl

10:40:07

W058303

Lebanon - Attacks Continue

WTN

Qlayleh Village - 24 April 1996

Israel kept up a relentless bombardment of south Lebanon, hitting roads to isolate Hezbollah guerrillas but also endangering UN relief convoys.

WS UN troops running

MS UN troops carrying injured

WS explosion

WS destroyed house

WS man walks across mound of rubble

10:40:29

W059700

Israel - Peres & Netanyahu Vote In Cliffhanger Poll

WTN

West Bank and Israel - 29 May 19996

Israelis went to the polls amid unprecedented security to choose a new prime minister and parliament in elections seen as a turning point for the Middle East peace process. Prime Minister Shimon Peres was among the early voters. He said he didn't see the election as a personal competition, or a confrontation between the parties, but instead a choice of future for the nation. Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu, 46-year-old head of the nationalist Likud Party, voted with his wife Sarah in Jerusalem's Beit Hinour school. He and Peres were neck and neck going into the election. It's the first time Israelis have had the chance to directly elect their Prime Minister and more than 70% of Israel's 3.9 million voters turned out to do so.

Jerusalem

Army patrol in street

Soldier checks identity of resident;

Tel Aviv

Peres drops vote in ballot box;

Jerusalem

Netanyahu voting

10:40:52

W059701

Israel - Netanyahu Has Vowed To Halt Handover

WTN

Israel - 30 May 1996 and file

Binyamin Netanyahu, at 46, is easily the youngest leader Israel has had -- indeed, he is the first who is younger than the Jewish nation itself. As thousands of celebrating supporters of his right wing Likud party surrounded its headquarters to anticipate and savour their victory with singing and dancing in the streets, Netanyahu himself was holding back from triumph until victory was statistically assured. The Central Election Commission said he was headed for about 50.3 percent of the vote, ousting Shimon Peres from the Premiership.

Tel Aviv - 30 May 1996

People cheering and dancing on the streets outside party headquarters

Israeli, with dog applauding

Jerusalem - 26 March 1996

Campaign poster of Netanyahu

Netanyahu emerging with wife Sarah, having voted in Likud primaries.

10:41:25

34788

West Bank- Palestinians and Israeli Soldiers Engage in Gun Battle

APTV

Ramallah - 25 September 1996

Palestinians and Israeli soldiers engaged in gun battles near Ramallah as riots erupted in Jerusalem and the West Bank. Three Palestinians, including two policemen, were killed and at least 180 people were injured in the worst violence since the 1987-93 revolt against Israeli occupation. The violence was sparked by Israel's completion of an archaeological tunnel near Jerusalem's Al Aqsa Mosque compound, one of the holiest sites of Islam. The firefight broke out near an Israeli army checkpoint south of Ramallah. Israeli troops had tried for hours to break up a protest by more than a thousand Palestinian stone throwers. The Palestinians were demonstrating against the opening of a tourist tunnel in Jerusalem. It runs along Jerusalem's Al Aqsa Mosque compound - the third holiest site of Islam - and Palestinians claim the tunnel undermines their rights to the Muslim shrines.

Various: shoot out

Injured man carried, people come to help, then get shots fired

Day: various soldiers clashing with stone-throwing Palestinians

10:42:57

34836

West Bank/Gaza Strip - Violence Increases Between Palestinians and Israelis

APTV

Ramallah, Gaza and Bethlehem - 26 September 1996

The body count is mounting as the violence between Israelis and Palestinians escalates. Israel has now brought in heavy weapons including helicopter gunships and tanks to tackle Palestinians armed with rifles and rocks in Gaza and the West Bank. At least 30 Palestinians and five Israelis were killed in clashes that within hours escalated from stone-throwing demonstrations into widespread shooting. Some 400 Palestinians and at least 19 Israelis were injured. Israeli helicopter gunships opened fire on Palestinian soldiers and civilians as riots across the West Bank and Gaza Strip turned into full-scale gun battles. At least 30 Palestinians and five Israelis were killed as the violence swept into virtually any town where Palestinians and Israelis coexist. Hundreds were wounded.

Ramallah

Israeli helicopter firing

Palestinian soldier firing

Gaza

Palestinians ducking

Ambulance

Bethlehem

Wide-shot Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli troops

Various Israeli soldiers firing at Palestinians

10:43:41

W049619

Israel - Israel reopens tunnel

WTN

Jerusalem - 29 September 1996

Israel reopened the controversial tunnel in Jerusalem linking the Wailing Wall with the Arab marketplace in the Old City. Tourists and Israelis eagerly walked through the passageway, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said would remain open forever.

Gate being reopened

Israeli soldiers on balcony over gate, pan down to entrance

People entering tunnel

Interior view tunnel

10:44:05

W033084

West Bank - Hebron shooting

WTN

Hebron - 1 January 1997

A right wing Israeli soldier fired his M-16 rifle into a crowded vegetable market in Hebron, wounding six Palestinians in an attempt to derail Israel's planned partial troop withdrawal from the West Bank city.

WS chaos in street at entrance to vegetable market, Israeli soldiers trying to grab renegade soldier Noam Friedman

MS officer pinning Friedman to ground, then dragging him away

MS Friedman being shoved into small concrete shelter for his own protection

WS Palestinians carrying wounded man through street

MS Israeli police and Palestinians arguing, traffic chaos

10:44:40

W033227

Israel/West Bank - Jewish settlers in Hebron

WTN

Hebron, Beit El and Jerusalem - 3 January 1997

The agreement for the partial withdrawal of Israeli troops from the West Bank town of Hebron looked to be hanging in the balance. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was holding a cabinet meeting after a number of hard-line ministers threatened not to back the deal. A petrol bomb attack by Palestinian youths in the Jewish sector of Hebron, and fighting in southern Lebanon between Israeli and Hezbollah forces, added to tension. Israeli settlers who have occupied two hill tops in the West Bank agreed to withdraw.

Hebron

MS police van driving at speed in street;

MS police searching youth against wall;

CU police arresting youth;

Jerusalem

WS of cabinet meeting;

MS of one side of table at cabinet meeting;

MS of Netanyahu with other ministers;

Beit El, West Bank

WS of crowd of settlers;

CU Israeli flag, pulls out to group of settlers;

CU of book, PANS up to chanting Rabbi

10:45:24

W033546

Middle East - Peace deal reached

WTN

Erez Crossing, Israel-Gaza Border - 15 January 1997

Israel and the Palestinians struck a landmark accord to extend Palestinian rule to the flashpoint city of Hebron, breaking a deadlock in the Middle East peace process since Israel's elections last May. Israel's cabinet, a coalition of right-wing and religious groups, met for more than six hours to study the accord, while dozens of angry Jewish settlers from the Palestinian territories protested outside the prime minister's office. The long-delayed Hebron agreement was sealed at a midnight summit at the Erez Crossing point between the Gaza Strip and Israel between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Israeli officials said the troop redeployment from Hebron would take place over the next five days, probably at the weekend.

Dennis Ross SOT:"I am very pleased to announce on behalf of the two leaders that they have reached agreement on a protocol on Hebron re-deployment"

cutaway photographers

MS Netanyahu and Arafat shake hands

10:45:50

W033695

West Bank - Arafat arrives in Hebron

WTN

Hebron - 19 January 1997

A triumphant Yasser Arafat declared Hebron a "liberated city" before he headed back to Gaza the makeshift seat of his government. It was a big day for the Palestinian leader, liberation for one of the West Bank's most disrupted towns, as well as his first visit to Hebron in more than 30 years. Arafat was given a rapturous welcome by tens of thousands of Palestinians waving flags to greet their leader and mark the official expansion of self-rule to Hebron. But for the Jewish settlers Arafat's arrival and the Israeli withdrawal was seen as a betrayal.

(Logo in vision)

MS Arafat in car waving to crowd;

WS Arafat's convoys moves slowly through crowd as people reach up to shake his hand;

WS crowd;

MS Arafat convoy;

MS Arafat declaring Hebron a liberated city

10:46:19

W098172

West Bank - Palestinians clash with Israeli soldiers

WTN

Hebron - 12 April 1997

Unrest in the West Bank took a new turn when Jewish settlers and Palestinians hurled stones at each other as police on either side of the religious divide tried to restrain

them.

WS Palestinian youths throwing stones;

MS Palestinians throwing stones;

FX bang, all duck;

MS Israeli soldier fires rifle;

WS man waving Israeli flag;

WS Israeli settler throws stones;

WS Israeli soldiers stop settlers from throwing stones;

MS Israeli soldiers fires at two palestinians running across end of road

10:46:54

W102676

Israel - Terrorist bomb blast at market

WTN

Jerusalem - 30 July 1997

Fourteen people were killed when a pair of suspected Palestinian suicide bombers blew themselves apart in a crowded open-air market in mainly Jewish west Jerusalem. More than 150 people were injured in the two blasts, which occurred less than a minute apart.

Tracking scene immediate aftermath;

Injured man being given oxygen on ground

HS scene people searching through rubble with stretchers;

MS scene with burst water melons

WS cleaning-up operation;

Orthodox Jewish man looking for remains

10:47:21

W111609

Lebanon - Israeli warplanes strike southern Lebanon

WTN

Iqlim Al-Tuffah Region, Southern Lebanon - 22 February 1998

Israeli warplanes, in ten consecutive runs, fired at least 12 rockets on hills overlooking the Iqlim al Tuffah region, where the Hezbollah maintains strongholds. The raids followed an attack by Iranian-backed Hezbollah guerrillas on Israeli troops in the Israeli-occupied border area, security sources said.

VS area;

VS smoke billowing into sky;

VS heavy smoke over Hezbollah posts

10:47:38

W001975

Gaza - Palestinian protest

WTN

Gaza - 1 May 1998

Palestinians marched to the Israel-Gaza border in a Labour Day demonstration against the continuing Israeli closure of the West Bank and the Gaza strip. But it was a protest that went wrong, as far as some of the demonstrators were concerned. When it came to the ritual burning of an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and an Israeli flag, the flames spread to the clothing of bystanders, and five people were taken to hospital with burns.

Crossing point between Gaza Strip and Israel;

Palestinian protesters with banners;

Palestinian police forming cordon;

demonstrators setting light to effigy of Benjamin Netanyahu;

Man with clothes alight on floor

10:48:11

W002489

West Bank - March of the Keys

WTN

Deishe, West Bank - 13 May 1998

Hundreds of Palestinian refugee schoolchildren held a "march of the keys" to mark the 50th anniversary of the loss of their family homes in what is now Israel. Around 500 pupils from the Daheisheh refugee camp in Bethlehem joined the march, some carrying the real keys of their families' lost houses and others bearing symbolic wooden keys.

CU giant keys being held aloft by children;

WS rally with keys and banners;

CU real key pull-out to show two men holding them;

Children with tags round neck with names of villages;

Elderly man with key;

10:48:30

92179

USA - Middle East Land for Peace Deal

Pool

Washington - 23 October 1998

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat agreed on a breakthrough land-for-peace deal on the violence-scarred West Bank, the culmination of marathon negotiations mediated by President Bill Clinton. Under the deal, the Palestinians will eliminate anti-Israel provisions in their founding charter and the Israelis will free scores of alleged political prisoners, U.S. and Palestinian.

Still of Clinton and Netanyahu

Still of Arafat and Clinton

Still of Netanyahu and Arafat talking

Still of Arafat and Netanyahu shaking hands

10:48:42

W009098

Israel - Netanyahu signs peace accord

APTN/Pool

Beit El, Jerusalem and Washington - 21-23 October 1998 and file

After nine days of intensive negotiation with the Palestinians, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed a peace accord. But with just five of his 16 cabinet ministers in favour of the agreement, the question he now faces is whether he has still got a government. The right-wing factions in Netanyahu's coalition government are threatening to vote in favour of the early dissolution of the Knesset and the nomination of a right wing candidate to run against Netanyahu. Likud MK Moshe Arens says that, before implementing the agreement, Netanyahu still has a long way to go to convince his right-wing coalition of the merits of the peace deal.

APTN

Beit El, Israel - 21 October 1998

Various settlers blocking roads and praying.

Pool

Washington - 23 October 1998

Signing ceremony

APTN

Jerusalem - file

Cabinet meeting, various.

10:49:13

LDB-900814

News Review 1999

APTN

Various Locations - 1999

Ehud Barak's supporters chanting on winning election

Ehud Barak

Netanyahu at microphones

Barak along with wife and flowers at Rabin's memorial

Arafat and Barak signing accord in Egypt

Buses along as 200 Palestinian prisoners released

Women wailing

Clashes at unauthorised Jewish settlement in Havat Maon, West Bank

Israeli troops forcing settlers out

Man pushed over and clashes

Woman settler saying that this is ethnic cleansing of Jews by a Jewish government

Sunset and silhouette of troops dragging men away

Crowd gathered in Jerusalem with Israeli flags

Barak speaking in Hebrew saying that Jerusalem would always be the eternal and undivided capital of Israel

People at wailing wall

Barak at wall

Israeli planes in air over Lebanon border area - smoke rising from attack

Syrian troops dancing and celebrating

GV Pro-Assad rally

Syrian President Assad with supporters after winning election (he was the only candidate)

King Hussein of Jordan out of plane with wife Noor (after receiving treatment for cancer in the USA)

Convoy along with coffin of Hussein

Mourners

Clinton at funeral for other former US presidents including, Bush, Ford and Carter

Jordan's Crown Prince Abdullah

10:52:29

170371

Israel - Millennium in Jerusalem

APTN

Jerusalem - 31 December 1999-1 January 2000

A new millennium sunrise over the city of Jerusalem, but it brought little change to daily lives of many of the inhabitants here As dawn broke worshippers made their usual morning prayer vigil within the walls of the Old City. The early morning rays of sunlight backlit the Dome of the Rock, and Al Aqsa mosque. Jerusalem is holy to all three major religions of the book: Christianity, Islam and Judaism, but control of the city has been the catalyst to wars ancient and modern.

Wide shot of Dome of the Rock and Jerusalem skyline

Various of people offering prayers at the old city walls

Cross zooms in to midnight bells ringing at church

10:53:29

174468A

Israel - Torture Cells Revealed

APTN

Gaza - 10 February 2000 and file

A newly published Israeli government report has acknowledged what Palestinians and human rights groups have said for years - that Israel systematically used illegal force against Palestinian suspects during the intifada. The State Comptroller's report was written in 1997 but withheld by the government until now. The newly released report covers the years 1988 to 1992, when the intifada, or Palestinian uprising against Israel, was at its height. Unprecedented numbers of Palestinians were being arrested and interrogated. Gaza's former interrogation centre - now used as the Palestinian Police Headquarters.

Zoom out former interrogation centre in Gaza, now used as the Palestinian Police Headquarters

Interior shots of cells

10:53:49

183025A

West Bank - Riots

APTN

Nablus and Ramallah - 14 May 2000

Frustration over stalled negotiations exploded into violence as thousands of Palestinian protesters clashed with Israeli troops in demonstrations that left at least 23 people injured. In Nablus, a large crowd of protesters watched as an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak was burnt. Demonstrators erected burning barricades on roadways and threw rocks at Israeli troops, who replied by firing tear gas and rubber-coated steel pellets. In Ramallah masked men from outlawed Palestinian guerrilla groups roamed the streets, firing machine guns into the air. Later youths were involved in clashes with the Israeli security services. Soldiers in armoured vehicles threw tear gas grenades and fired rubber-coated steel pellets. At least 10 Palestinians and one Israeli soldier were injured during the demonstrations.

Nablus

Wide shot of demonstrator with Palestinian flag on top of building

Masked gunmen holding guns in air (sound of firing in background)

Woman holding baby and gun in window

Effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak being set alight

People crouching in fields, gunfire sound in background

Injured Palestinian limping

Various, Israeli soldiers firing tear gas

Ramallah

Masked Palestinians firing in air

Palestinians on rooftop firing in air

10:54:27

183116A

West Bank - Violence

APTN

Ramallah and Bethlehem - 15 May 2000

Israeli troops and Palestinian police fought fierce gun battles in some of the worst violence in years. At least three Palestinians were killed and more than 320 injured as protests swept the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The violence came despite a decision by the Israeli Cabinet to transfer three West Bank villages near Jerusalem to Palestinian control in a good-will gesture. Ramallah saw one of the most intensified standoffs between Israeli troops and Palestinian police. The police were shooting from rooftops and exchanging fire with Israeli soldiers in the streets below. Two Palestinian policemen were killed, according to Israeli and Palestinian security officials. In Bethlehem the stone throwing intensified as soldiers fought back. Thick clouds of tear gas and smoke from burning tires rose into the air.

Ramallah

Various shots Israeli troops in gunfight

Various of firing between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian police Israeli helicopters dropping canisters over the scene

Bethlehem

Long shot of Palestinian protestors throwing stones

Israeli soldiers firing

Long shot Palestinians throwing stones on soldiers from building

Mid shot Palestinians throwing stone

Soldiers firing

Long shot stone throwing

10:55:02

183777

Israel - Troops Withdrawal from Lebanon

APTN

Ghajjar, Northern Israel (close to border with South Lebanon - 23 May 2000

Israeli troops are continuing their withdrawal from South Lebanon, which they have occupied for 22 years. In the wake of their retreat, the pro Israeli militia group, S-L-A (South Lebanon Army) has fallen apart - its troops fleeing town after town as their posts fall to Hezbollah guerrillas. With the S-L-A unable to hold its ground in the central area of the Israeli-occupied zone, Israel has been speeding up its withdrawal. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak says that troops could be out within 10 days, more than a month ahead of Israel's self-imposed July 7th deadline.

Various SLA tanks that have pulled out of Lebanon at new base just across border in Israel

Wide shot artillery pieces that have pulled out of Lebanon

Various SLA soldiers

10:55:32

183837

Lebanon - Israel Withdrawal Wrap

APTN

Various, South Lebanon - 23 May 2000

Jubilant Lebanese guerrillas and their civilian sympathisers have continued to sweep back into areas deserted by the Israeli backed South Lebanese Army. And more S-L-A weapons have been falling into the hands of Hezbollah, heightening Israeli concerns. Meanwhile the head of Hezbollah has urged S-L-A militiamen to surrender and assured that they will be treated fairly. But he also warned Israel that the killing of six Lebanese civilians amid firing by Israelis and members of the S-L-A was "a very serious matter" He said his group was still deciding how to respond. These scenes are being repeated in areas across what had been, until recently, occupied territory. These people are celebrating the withdrawal of the Israeli army, and the collapse of its S-L-A ally. The crowds wave not only Lebanese flags, but also those of the main Shiite guerrilla groups Hezbollah and Amal.

Shaheen Village, Western Sector

Various convoy of cars and trucks carrying Amal Movement and Hezbollah flags

Women by roadside greeting comers

People hugging

Hezbollah fighters by roadside hugging

Bint Jbeil

High shot of crowd celebrating, waving Lebanese, Hezbollah and Amal flags

Man with gun giving another man a "high-five"

Old woman with pot on head with Lebanese flag in it

10:56:09

185664A

Syria - Funeral of President Assad

APTN

Damascus - 13 June 2000

Pallbearers in scarlet berets and combat fatigues carried the body of Syrian President Hafez Assad through the mourner-thronged streets of the capital. On the streets of Damascus, crowds of tens of thousands surged along the cortege route. In dark mourning suits or flowing Arab robes, world leaders and other dignitaries paid tribute at the flag-draped casket of Assad, who died Saturday at age 69, at the elaborate, white marble People's Palace, set on a Damascus hillside. But for ordinary Syrians, the loss of the only president many had ever known sparked a remarkable outpouring of grief that at times seemed staged, at other times almost unbearably heartfelt. They took to the streets of cities and villages, chanting praise for Assad and for Bashar, his son and heir apparent.

Security police holding back crowd of hundreds of mourners

Wide shot funeral procession

Wide shot procession

10:56:39

196213

Israel - Violence at the Al-Aqsa Mosque

APTN

Jerusalem - 29 September 2000

Palestinians accused Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon of igniting a "religious war" that erupted in the bloodiest fighting in four years. Tensions have been high at a Jerusalem holy side revered by both Jews and Muslims since Sharon visited there to show that Israel is in control. Palestinians threw stones at Israeli riot police, who fired back live rounds and rubber bullets. Four people were killed and about 175 people were hurt, including 44 Israeli police and 15 civilians. The Jerusalem shrine is known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as Haram as-Sharif, or Noble Sanctuary. The violence began at the Al-Aqsa mosque when Palestinians worshippers began stoning Israeli police after attending Friday prayers.

Muslim worshippers, various

Palestinian protesters throwing stones at Israeli riot police, various

Protesters hiding behind stonework

Injured protester is carried away, various

Riot police pushing at protesters

Police firing at protesters, various

Poster of Sharon with message "Miserable Killer"

Israeli flag being burnt

10:57:40

G00190

Instant Library 2001

APTN

Various Locations - 2001

New Prime Minister Ariel Sharon

Palestinians burning effigy of Prime Minister Sharon

Palestinian negotiator Sacb Erekat talking about the Jekyll and Hyde appearance of Israel's desire for peace

Israeli / Palestinian street violence

Suicide bomber attack in Netanya - 4 killed and 45 wounded

Leader of the Palestinian Militant Group Hamas Sheik Ahmed Yassin saying that Israel must take responsibility for all these events because Israel is the one that occupied Palestinian lands

Israeli soldiers in Gaza

Israeli bombing Gaza (April 16)

Gunfire over Bethlehem

Funeral of Palestinian teenager Rami Musa killed by Israeli bombing

Funeral of Palestinian baby killed by Israeli bombing

Sharon meeting settlers

Airstrikes in West Bank

Arafat calling for the cessation of all forms of violence

Damage to Pizza restaurant in Jerusalem from Palestine suicide bomber

Israeli assassination of Mustafa Zibri (Abu Ali Mustafa), a leading Palestinian

Israeli spokesman announcing assassination of Mustafa

Mustafa Zibri (sepia and slow motion)

Palestinian assassination of Israeli tourism minister Rahavam Zeevi

Israeli tourism minister Rahavam Zeevi (ultra-nationalist)

Zeevi funeral

Israeli tanks in West Bank

11:01:14

G00191

Instant Library 2002 - Suicide bombs

APTN

Various Locations - 2002

In 2002, there was no let up in the deadly suicide attacks against Israelis, despite the Israeli offensive against the Palestinians greatly restricting their movement and increasing security around Palestinian-controlled areas.

On January 27, for the first time, a female suicide bomber struck. 28 year old Wafa Idris killed herself and an 81 year old Israeli man when she detonated the explosives she was carrying in a busy shopping street in Jerusalem. Her mother said Wafa had been shot three times by rubber bullets while working as a paramedic for the Red Crescent in Ramallah.

On June 18 there were devastating scenes when a suicide bomber killed himself and 19 civilians in a bomb attack on a bus in southern Jerusalem.

On March 27, in the Israeli resort of Netanya, a bomber blew himself up at a hotel, killing 28 Israelis celebrating Passover. The attack claimed by militant group Hamas, was the deadliest since the beginning of the uprising.

On March 9 at least 11 people were killed and 50 injured in a suicide bomb attack on a crowded cafe in west Jerusalem, near the official residence of then Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

And on May 7 a suicide bomber attacked a social club in the Israeli town of Rishon Letzion, killing 16 people and injuring more than 50.

Jerusalem - January 27, 2002

Scene of attack after first female suicide bomber hit

Debris from blast

Woman holding injured woman

Police at scene

11:01:33

Ramallah - January 30, 2002

Picture of suicide bomber

SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Safia Idris, Mother of female suicide bomber Wafa Idris

"She left on Sunday. I had no idea of what she was doing or where she was going, she didn't tell me anything."

11:01:44

Jerusalem - June 18, 2002

Zoom into damaged bus and soldiers after suicide bomb which killed 19 people

Bodies on ground covered with black plastic, pan to bus

Wide of damaged bus

Body bags beside road, pan to bus

Various shots of fax in Arabic from militant group Hamas claiming responsibility for suicide bombing

11:02:09

Netanya - March 27, 2002

Exterior damaged hotel after suicide bomber blew himself up in the dining room killing 19

Various destruction inside hotel

Various pans of scene outside hotel with police and bodies on ground

11:02:30

Jerusalem - March 9, 2002

Investigators at entrance to cafe

Various exteriors of cafe

Various of cafe interiors seen through broken windows

11:02:47

Rishon Letzion - May 8, 2002

Wide of scene of bomb attack outside social club where 16 people were killed

Various bombed building and investigators sifting through debris

11:03:01

G00191

Instant Library 2002 - Israeli attacks on Palestinian headquarters

APTN

Various Locations - 2002

With no end in sight to the cycle of violence in the Middle East, the Israelis sought to consolidate their position and force the Palestinian administration to prevent more suicide attacks. On January 18, the Israelis sent more than 20 tanks to surround Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's headquarters in Ramallah. Overnight the pressure was turned up, when Israeli tanks and armoured personnel carriers sealed off Arafat's Ramallah headquarters and destroyed a Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation building. The siege came after Arafat had already been confined to Ramallah for several weeks by the Israeli authorities. Now he was confined to his office. On the 20th of February Israeli helicopters fired on Arafat's office for the first time, causing massive destruction.

Arafat was not released from his confinement until May. The Israeli Defence Force had destroyed all of Ramallah's infrastructure - and its bureaucracy, schools and security services. The Israelis would return to put Arafat under siege several times later in the year, although never for such an extended period.

Ramallah, West Bank - January 18, 2002

Tank blocking road near Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's headquarters

11:03:06

Ramallah - January 19, 2002

APC drives into car park in front of the Palestinian Broadcasting Centre

Explosion, lights go out

Wide of PBC building in flames

Wide PBC building entrance

11:03:28

Ramallah - February 20, 2002

Missiles hitting Arafat's office

Various interior shots (with blood on the ground) inside Arafat's residence

11:03:42

Ramallah - February 21, 2002

SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Yasser Arafat, Palestinian leader

"This is an attempt to nail down the Palestinian people and its leadership. They don't know that we as a people are undefeated and this leadership is part of the undefeated people."

11:03:58

G00191

Instant Library 2002 - Operation Defensive Shield

APTN

Various Locations - 2002

Israeli forces also attacked Palestinian areas they said were breeding ground for suicide attackers. Operation Defensive Shield was the largest military operation in the West Bank since 1967, launched in response to the Passover suicide attack in Netanya, when 28 people were killed. Nablus and Jenin were the two places highest on the Israeli blacklist. In Nablus, the West Bank's largest city, Israeli forces battled with Palestinian gunmen. The fighting meant many of the injured, and those killed, could not be evacuated and human rights organisations complained of lack of access to parts of the city. Jenin camp too was out of bounds to human rights organisations while Israeli tanks moved in, destroyed homes and launched fierce fighting to rout out terrorists. Journalists were only able to enter the camp six weeks after the Israelis attacked. They found the once lively streets were silent and that many of the camp's people had fled during the fighting. Israel estimated 100 Palestinians were killed in the camp during eight days of the deadliest fighting. Palestinians said the toll was far higher and that many people were also starved, or cut off from their water supplies. Israel lost 23 soldiers in the Jenin operation. After the Israelis left, the Palestinians struggled to come to terms with the extent of the devastation. Hardly a building remained untouched and the streets were piled high with rubble.

Nablus - April 7, 2002

Wide shot of Nablus, with AUDIO gunfire

Various of gunmen firing on Israeli position from behind the wall

Body of gunman

Gunmen firing

Injured man being dragged to safety

11:04:24

Jenin - April 13, 2002

Destroyed street in Jenin

Woman carrying bottle

Women entering home which has been half destroyed

Street littered with debris from buildings

Women salvaging possessions

Jenin - April 16, 2002

Woman drinking from tap in the rubble

Sewage water in rubble, pan to women sitting and talking in demolished house

Woman standing on first floor of destroyed house with her children

Pan of destroyed houses

11:05:10

G00191

Instant Library 2002 - The Battle of Manger Square

APTN

Various Locations - 2002

After running battles with Israeli troops, about 200 Palestinian gunmen forced their way into the Church of the Nativity - believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ - in Bethlehem's Manger Square. Israeli tanks positioned themselves on the square and soldiers occupied buildings overlooking the church. Thus began the siege of Bethlehem that lasted five weeks. Those inside the church with the gunmen included human rights activists, journalists and members of the church's clergy.

During the siege, while intense negotiations took place, some of those holed up inside, and the bodies of those killed in gun battles with the Israelis, were able to leave. Israeli soldiers threw smoke bombs between those leaving and journalists, blocking the view.

A European-brokered deal ended the siege. As part of the deal, 13 of the group- those highest on Israel's wanted list- were deported, first to Cyprus and then to other European countries. Another 26 militiamen were transported to the Gaza Strip, where they were to remain, exiled from the West Bank.

Bethlehem - April 2, 2002

Various of Bethlehem, AUDIO gunfire

Bethlehem - April 2, 2002

Tank driving towards camera, drives over car in street

Bethlehem - April 8, 2002

Various early morning shots of Manger Square, smoke rising with AUDIO heavy gunfire

Israeli soldiers searching firefighters (before allowing them to attend to fire)

Bethlehem - April 25, 2002

Wide shot Manger Square with tank in front

Blindfolded prisoners leaving church

Bethlehem May 4, 2002

Israeli soldier standing guard

Church bells ringing, zoom out to church

11:06:16

G00070

World News Review 2003

APTN / Pool

Various Locations - 2003

APTN

Hope of progress in the Middle East peace process lay with the appointment of Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) as the first Palestinian Prime Minister. After pressure applied by both The United States and Israel, Palestinian President Yasser Arafat agreed to relinquish some of his power to create the new post. The appointment was seen as a pre-cursor to the U.S. unveiling its "road map" to peace, with the aim of establishing Palestinian statehood within three years. However, continued violence and Israeli strikes within the West Bank and Gaza on Hamas targets were a constant setback to progress.

7.3.03 - Ramallah, West Bank

Abu Mazen, Palestinian Prime Minister Designate, sitting at desk

18.3.03 - Ramallah, West Bank

Various of Palestinian Legislative Council meeting in chamber

Various of council members voting on resolution

11:06:04

9.4.03 - Gaza

Various shots of bodies being carried through crowd

Various shots of masked paramilitary fighters with guns in burial parade

9.4.02 - Jenin

Damaged empty classroom, pan to blood on floor

Close up of broken light and blood splattered floor

Pockmarks on ceiling and walls

11:07:07

U.S. special operations forces in Iraq captured Mohammed Abu Abbas, leader of a Palestinian group that killed an American on the hijacked cruise liner Achille Lauro in 1985. He was reported to have lived in Iraq for 17 years. Abbas' case had been mentioned in an October 2002 speech by President Bush, used as evidence of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's support for international terrorism. The Palestinian Authority immediately asked for the release of Abbas, saying his arrest violated a 1995 interim agreement between Israel and the Palestinians that said no PLO officials could be arrested for violent acts committed before the 1993 Israel-P.L.O. pact of mutual recognition.

File, 20.4.96 - Gaza

Mohammed Abu Abbas - allowed into Gaza for first time to attend Palestinian National Council meeting sits down

Abbas greets man

16.4.03 - Baghdad

Wide shot of exterior Mohammed Abbas' house

11:07:21

In April, following a bitter stand-off, the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and his prime-minister designate Mahmoud Abbas finally agreed on the formation of a new cabinet. Arafat had challenged several key appointments made by Abbas during the course of the power struggle. After officially accepting the position of Palestinian Prime Minister, one of Abbas' first acts was to formally accept a draft of the internationally backed peace plan, known as the "road map". The "road map" required an immediate ceasefire, a crackdown on Palestinian militants and Israel's withdrawal from Palestinian towns and the dismantling of Jewish settlements. But just a day after the plan was presented, its success was already under threat. Following a suicide bombing attack in Tel Aviv, Israel struck a Hamas stronghold in Gaza in a raid aimed at taking out Yousef Abu Hein, a leading Hamas bomb maker.

23.4.03 - Ramallah, West Bank

Wide shot of Arafat (centre) holding hands with Mahmoud Abbas ( left) and Suleiman (right) seated at table

1.5.03 - Ramallah, West Bank

Mid shot of Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas meeting his cabinet of ministers, shot pulls out to wide

11:07:38

1.5.03 - Gaza City, Gaza Strip

Various shots of masked Hamas gunmen standing amid wreckage of houses at site of Israeli raid

Various shots of ruined buildings

Blood visible on wreckage

Wide shot Gaza City skyline explosions, dust clouds rising above horizons

11:08:00

The "road map" peace plan faced opposition from within Israel. Jewish settlers, once allied to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, rallied against him as he met with both the Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas and the U.S. President George W. Bush in a summit in Jordan. The result: a pledge by Israel to dismantle illegal settlements in Palestinian areas, while the new Palestinian prime minister renounced all terrorism against Israel.

4.6.03 - Jerusalem

Various of Jewish settlers protesting with banners

Various wides of protest rally

11:08:18

Pool

4.6.03 - Jordan

US President George W. Bush, Palestinian Prime Minister Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas), Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, walk out and wave to media. AUDIO members of media asking them to shake hands, they don't

Leaders walking to podium

Bush and Abbas sitting in garden

11:08:41

APTN

Setbacks to the progress of the peace plan were frequent. Israel continued with the construction of a barrier dividing Israel from areas of the West Bank. While Israel claimed it was merely a measure to protect them against suicide bombers, the Palestinians said it cut thousands of people off from their land and jobs and encroached into large sections of their territory. Despite the construction of the 250 kilometre long fence, the suicide bombings continued. At least 18 people were killed and over 40 injured when a bomb went off in packed bus full of Jewish worshippers returning from prayers at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. In response, Israel froze contact with the Palestinian authority and stopped the handover of two West Bank towns. They also launched a new wave of attacks on Hamas targets in both the West Bank and Gaza.

21.7.03 - Jayous, West Bank

Wide shot of truck moving along the security zone of the road

Bulldozer and truck seen working over barbed wire fence

18.7.03 - Bethlehem, West Bank

Shot of fence warning sign

29.7.03 - West Bank

Fence snaking along for kilometres

Aerial following fence, Palestinian towns and Israeli settlements close to fence

11:09:36

19.8.03 - Jerusalem

Wide shot of ambulances at scene

Various of bus and wreckage at site

Pool

19.8.03 - Jerusalem

Zoom in to front of bus where blast happened

11:09:57

APTN

9.9.03 - Hebron, West Bank

Various shots of apartment building where Kawasme family lived being shelled by tanks

Various shots of Israeli troops attacking apartment building; UPSOUND: Gunfire

Apartment block being demolished

11:10:28

Following the resignation of Mahmoud Abbas as Palestinian Prime Minister, Ahmed Qureia emerged as the frontrunner to take over the position.

Israel maintained its pressure on the Palestinian authority, issuing threats to expel the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. An Arab backed resolution at the United Nations demanding that Israel halt the threats was blocked by a U.S. veto in the security council vote - three other nations abstained: Britain, Germany and Bulgaria. In October, Israel launched an air strike against Syria, hitting what they claimed was a suspected Islamic Jihad training base outside Damascus. The attack on Syria led to an escalation of tensions along the border with Israel and Lebanon, where Syria was the main power-broker. In his first comments following the attack Sharon defended Israel's right to protect its citizens.

9.9.03 - Ramallah, West Bank

SOUNDBITE: (English) Ahmed Qureia, candidate for Palestinian Prime Minister

"We are committed to the peace process, we are committed to the road map, we are committed to all our commitments in the road map, we are committed to security and everything. And we want the other side to commit to it themselves."

11:10:42

UNTV

16.9.03 - New York, USA

Security Council voting on draft resolution, some voting for, US voting against, some abstain

11:10:52

APTN

7.10.03 - Jerusalem

SOUNDBITE: (Hebrew) Ariel Sharon, Israeli Prime Minister

"Israel will not be deterred from protecting its citizens and will strike its enemies in every place and in every way."

11:11:08

G00413

World News Review 2004 - Middle East: West Bank Barrier

APTN

Various Locations - 2004

In July, the International Court of Justice in the Netherlands ruled that a 685-kilometre long security barrier built by Israel along the length of West Bank was illegal. The court's decision was based on its finding that Israeli settlements in the Palestinian areas occupied by Israel in the 1967 war were a violation of the Geneva Convention, as was occupation of East Jerusalem. But Israel said the ruling would not change its policy on the barrier or the Palestinians. Israel claims the barrier is to protect Israeli citizens from attacks by Palestinian militants such as suicide bombers. The Palestinians, whose lives in some places have been severely disrupted by the complex of high concrete walls, razor-wire fences, trenches and watch towers, said it was like living in "a big prison." In its completed form the barrier is to stretch 730 kilometres, although there have been calls in Israel for the route to be changed to the 1967 border. The Palestinians say that the completed barrier will separate thousands of Palestinians and some 45-thousand Jewish settlers from the main Palestinian areas, by dipping deep into the West Bank. The fence cuts many people off from schools, medical clinics, jobs and agricultural land.

Abu Dis, West Bank - January

Wide shot of wall between Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem and the village of Abu Dis in the West Bank

Palestinians jumping over wall

Abu Dis, West Bank - 16 January 2004

Wide shot of wall

Abu Dis, West Bank - 16 January 2004

Nuns walking by security fence

People clambering through fence

Pull out to wide of fence, graffiti reads "Peace comes by agreement not separation."

Qalandiya, West Bank - 10 July 2004

Close up minaret through break in concrete barrier pull out to wide shot

11:11:48

G00413

World News Review 2004 - Middle East: Gaza Raids

APTN

Various Locations - 2004

Israeli security forces made raids into the Rafah camp on the border with Egypt in the Gaza Strip to destroy houses and the ruins of a mosque, saying the buildings give cover to gunmen and weapons smugglers. Nine Palestinians were killed in January in fierce fighting with Israeli troops in Gaza City, after the army launched an operation near the Jewish settlement of Netzarim, in the heart of the teeming Gaza Strip. Palestinian militants fired anti-tank missiles and set off an explosive at the troops who fired back, the army said. In February, Israeli troops moved into a neighbourhood at the eastern edge of Gaza City, killing four Palestinians and wounding 13 others, residents said. Two of the dead were reported to be militants, including a Hamas leader.

Netzarim, Gaza Strip - 28 January 2004

Wide shot of Israeli tank driving down street towards camera, rocket is fired, passing just in front of tank, UPSOUND gunfire

Man walking past ambulance carrying rocket propelled grenade (RPG) launcher

Armed men moving down street, looking for cover from Israeli gunfire

Gaza City - 11 February 2004

Palestinians beside to burning tyres, UPSOUND gunfire, group scatters, pan to Palestinians behind wall

Palestinian carrying RPG launcher

11:12:13

G00413

World News Review 2004 - Middle East: Suicide Attacks

APTN

Various Locations - 2004

In spite of the security efforts, Palestinian suicide bomb continued to get through to attack Israelis. In mid-January a woman blew herself at the main crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip at Erez, killing at least four Israelis and wounding seven other people. She was identified as Reem Raiyshi, aged 21, a Gaza woman described as a Hamas militant and the first female suicide-bomber from the Islamic militant group. Two weeks later a Palestinian man blew himself up on a bus in the downtown Rehevia district of Jerusalem, killing at least 10 bystanders and wounding about 30 in an attack outside Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's official residence. At the end of February, a Palestinian blew himself up on a crowded city bus during rush hour in downtown Jerusalem, killing seven people and wounding more than 60 people, 11 of them seriously. In March, Palestinians blew themselves up in Ashdod, a closely guarded Israeli port, killing 10 Israelis in the first deadly attack on a strategic Israeli installation in more than three years of Israeli-Palestinian fighting.

In August, Palestinian suicide bombers blew up two buses almost simultaneously in the main street of Beersheba in southern Israel, killing 16 people and wounding more than 80 others. The militant group Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was revenge for the Israeli assassination of two of Hamas leaders in March. In response, Israeli forces closed off the West Bank city of Hebron and blew up the home of Ahmed Kawasmeh, one of the two Beersheba suicide bombers, and ransacked the house of the other bomber.

Jerusalem - 22 February 2004

Various shots of emergency crews around damaged bus

Beersheba - 31 August 2004

Various shots of burned out bus

Hebron - 1 Sep 2004

Various night shots of Israeli soldiers outside house of Ahmed Kawasmeh

Soldiers escorting people from the house

Old man looking at damage to house

Various shots of destroyed interior of house of second Beersheba bomber

11:12:48

G00413

World News Review 2004 - Middle East: Israel and Hamas

APTN

Various Locations - 2004

Israel used the Palestinian suicide-attacks on Ashdod to justify the assassination of the founder and spiritual leader of the Hamas group, Sheik Ahmed Yassin in Gaza City in late March. A rocket fired from an Israeli helicopter struck the wheelchair-bound Yassin as he left a mosque near his house at daybreak. Yassin was the most influential Palestinian militant leader to be killed by Israel and Hamas threatened bloody revenge. In a spontaneous outpouring of rage and grief, tens of thousands of Palestinians, led by hundreds of militant gunmen, poured into the streets of Gaza City after hearing of Yassin's death. Yassin had dodged previous Israeli attempts to kill him. His assassination provoked demonstrations across the Muslim world, including Baghdad, Turkey and Palestinian communities in Lebanon.

Yassin's deputy Abdel Aziz Rantisi succeeded the Hamas leadership and vowed there would be no let up in the Hamas campaign against Israel. But Rantisi was killed in late April when two Israeli rockets fired from a helicopter hit his car in the Sheik Radwan neighbourhood of Gaza City. Rantissi was rushed to the hospital and into emergency surgery, but he died five minutes after arriving. Two of his guards were also killed and five bystanders pedestrians were wounded. Hamas had claimed responsibility for most of the 112 suicide bombings that have killed 465 people on the Israeli side during three and a half years of violence. Hours before Rantisi was killed, a Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up at the Erez industrial zone, killing an Israeli border policeman and injuring three other security workers. Thousands of supporters escorted the body of Rantisi down the streets of Gaza at his funeral.

Gaza City, Gaza Strip - 16 January 2004

Various shots of Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin

Gaza City - 22 March 2004

Close up pieces of Yassin's wheelchair on ground after the Israeli rocket strike that killed him

Sidon, southern Lebanon - 23 March 2004

Religious figures marching in procession behind the wheelchair

Tripoli, northern Lebanon - 23 March 2004

Men dressed in Hamas colours carrying models of rockets and rocket launchers

Gaza City - Unknown date

Hamas leader Abdel Aziz Rantisi at protest march, surrounded by gunmen

Gaza City - 17 April 2004

Car being lifted and turned over by crowd, men trying to reach inside

Hamas leader Abdel Aziz Rantisi being wheeled through hospital corridor crowded with media

Gaza City - 18 April 2004

Various shots of Hamas supporters carrying the body of Abdel Aziz Rantisi on a stretcher

11:13:33

G00413

World News Review 2004 - Middle East: Gaza Raids

APTN

Various Locations - 2004

In May, Israeli forces reportedly fired tank shells, helicopter missiles and machine-guns at a crowd of thousands of Palestinians demonstrating against an Israeli raid on the Rafah refugee camp in Gaza. Witnesses and medical workers said at least eight people were killed, two of them children, and 50 people were wounded. The Israelis had launched "Operation Rainbow" in the Rafah camp two days earlier, to hunt down militants and destroying arms-smuggling tunnels that run from Rafah beneath the nearby border. In September, Israeli forces pushed into the largest Palestinian refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, at Jebaliya near Gaza, after a rocket attack killed two young children in the Israeli border town of Sderot. Twenty-three Palestinians were killed in the attack and at least 108 wounded, the highest single-day Palestinian casualty count in 30 months.

Rafah, Gaza Strip - 19 May 2004

Various wide aerial shots of Palestinian crowd marching

Israeli helicopter firing overhead

Explosion among crowd, people running away

Injured being carried away from scene

Ramallah, West Bank - 30 September 2004

SOUNDBITE (English) Saeb Erekat, Palestinian cabinet minister:

"Violence will breed violence, bullets will breed bullets, hate will generate more of it."

Jebaliya, Gaza Strip - 30 September 2004

Various shots of Israeli tank positioned on high ground overlooking refugee camp

Various shots of street scenes in Jebaliya, UPSOUND gunfire, people run for cover

Masked Palestinian gunman running along alley, one of them carries cable for explosives

11:14:15

G00413

World News Review 2004 - Israel: Vanunu

APTN

Various Locations - 2004

A defiant Mordecai Vanunu walked out of prison in late April, after serving 18 years for spilling Israel's nuclear secrets, saying he was proud of his actions and complaining he had been treated cruelly by his jailers. Vanunu flashed victory signs and waved to hundreds of cheering supporters as he walked into the courtyard of Shikma Prison in the coastal town of Ashkelon. Dozens of counter-demonstrators booed and shouted epithets. In 1986 Vanunu, a nuclear technician, leaked details and pictures of Israel's alleged nuclear weapons programme to a British newspaper. Based on his account, experts said at the time that Israel had the world's sixth-largest stockpile of nuclear weapons. Israeli agents abducted Vanunu from Italy before the article was printed and he was convicted of treason in a closed trial. He said he had been kept in solitary confinement for 12 years in an attempt to drive him mad. Vanunu was released subject to is subject to a broad array of speech and travel restrictions. In November after he was arrested again for breaching the restrictions.

Ashkelon, Israel - 21 April 2004

Mordecai Vanunu walking out of prison with brother Meir (in blue shirt) and waving and making victory sign

SOUNDBITE (English) Mordecai Vanunu, nuclear whistleblower:

"I am proud and happy to do what I did. All the secrets that were published are in the hands of the world, all the world, every state, 180 states received this secret."

Medium close shot of Vanunu

11:14:44

G00413

World News Review 2004 - Egypt Hotel Bombing

APTN

Egypt - 2004

In October, bombs exploded at two resorts in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula where Israelis were vacationing at the end of a Jewish holiday. At least 32 people were killed and more than 120 wounded in the blasts at the Taba Hilton, a luxury hotel just south of the Israeli border, and at the Ras Shitan camping area near the town of Nuweiba, 55 kilometres south of Taba. Most of the victims were Israelis. In Taba, a car laden with explosives drove into the lobby of the hotel and exploded, while a suicide-bomber blew himself up near the hotel swimming pool. The blast collapsed a 10-storey wing of the hotel. Two smaller car bombs exploded at Ras Shitan. Two previously unknown Islamic militant groups claimed to have carried out the attacks. Israel blamed al-Qaida, and Egyptian police arrested a number of Bedouin tribesmen on suspicion that they supplied the bombs. About 15-thousand Israelis had been spending the weeklong Jewish holiday of Sukkoth in the Sinai, despite Israeli government warnings of the risk of terrorist attacks on Israeli tourists in the area. The region was controlled by Israel from 1967 to 1989.

Taba - 8 October 2004

Wide shot of Taba Hilton hotel, built by Israelis when Israel controlled Taba from 1967 to 1989

Mid shot of Taba Hilton hotel

Taba - 9 October 2004

Wide shot of hotel

Heavy machines moves in to demolish part of wall

Body being carried away on stretcher

Top shot of digger working

Near Nuweiba - 8 October

Damaged buildings and damaged pickup truck at the Ras Shitan camping area.

11:15:16

G00413

World News Review 2004 - Death of Yasser Arafat

APTN

Various Locations - 2004

The ailing Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, left the West Bank on board a Jordanian military helicopter in late October, heading to a clinic near Paris in France for critical medical treatment. It was the first time that Israeli forces had allowed Arafat to leave his besieged headquarters in Ramallah for almost three years. The Palestinian president was said to be suffering from a serious but undisclosed illness. Under French law his wife, Suha Arafat, controlled access to her husband and declined to release details of Arafat's condition. Arafat's Palestinians deputies denied that he was dying and said that he would recover. But after two weeks, when Arafat was reported to have slipped into a coma, they abandoned their public optimism and began hurried preparations for his death.

Ramallah, West Bank - 29 Oct 2004

Palestinian President Yasser Arafat is helped into Jordanian helicopter.

Wide shot of people watching from the top of a wall

Pan shot of helicopters flying off

Clamart, Near Paris, France - 29 October 2004

Crew takes Arafat on stretcher from helicopter and into building

Clamart, France - 29 October 2004

Hospital complex where Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was treated

Clamart, France - 30 October 2004

Various shots of a rally of Arafat supporters near the hospital where he is being treated.

11:15:51

Arafat died in intensive care at the Clamart clinic in the early hours of 11 November 2004. He had been a leader of the Palestinian struggle against Israel for four decades, and Palestinians were united in grief when they awoke to news of his death. Palestinian flags were lowered to half-mast at the compound in Ramallah where he had spent his final years. His body was flown from France to Egypt, where he had been born, and where was accorded a military funeral ceremony. A helicopter then flew his coffin to Ramallah in the West Bank, where he was buried in a grave outside his besieged headquarters. Tens of thousands of people swarmed around the helicopter that brought him to the Ramallah compound. As the coffin was carried toward the grave site, police jumped on top of it, waving their arms and flashing the victory sign. People chanted, "With our blood and our soul we will redeem you Yasser Arafat!" Palestinians consider the grave site in Ramallah a temporary one - a place for Arafat's body until they can honour his request to be buried at the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem. Israel refused this request. Speaking at the graveside, Palestinian Cabinet Minister Saeb Erekat said: "My heart is broken because President Arafat is dead, and the Israeli occupation is not ".

Clamart, France - 11 November 2004

SOUNDBITE (French) General Christian Estripeau, hospital spokesman:

"Mr Yasser Arafat, president of the Palestinian Authority, has died at the Percy Military Training Hospital in Clamart on November 11, 2004 at 3:30"

Ramallah, West Bank - 11 November 2004

Palestinian flag is lowered to half-mast

Ramallah, West Bank - 12 November 2004

Wide shot of Yasser Arafat's compound, the Muqata, and thousands of mourners gathered

Masked men holding swords entering

Pan of crowd in compound

Coffin being carried through crowd AUDIO guns being shot in air to move crowd

Police officers getting on top of coffin, which slowly moves through the crowd UPSOUND chanting

Officials paying their respects at grave, including Palestinian minister Saeb Erekat, holding wreaths

Troops salute at graveside

11:17:04

G00489

Instant Library 2005

AP Television News / Pool

Various Locations - 2005

Israel and the Palestinians

The Palestinians held their first presidential election in nine years on January, choosing a successor to longtime leader Yasser Arafat in a vote many across the world hoped would usher in a moderate leadership and revitalise the Middle East peace process. Mahmoud Abbas, the acting president and the candidate from of Arafat's ruling Fatah movement, was elected with 62.3 percent of the vote. The landslide vote was seen to give Abbas a clear mandate to resume peace talks with Israel , but he still faces t he tough task of reining in powerful armed extremist groups.

Abbas and the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon met face-to-face at a summit in Egypt in early February. The two leaders smiled broadly as they leaned across a long table to shake hands as they met for the first time. During the summit, Abbas and Sharon announced a ceasefire to end the last four years of violence between Israelis and Palestinians, and spoke of their hopes for a new era of peace talks.

438798

AP Television News

East Jerusalem - 9 January 2005

Sunrise over old city with the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa mosque centre shot

Abbas-Yasser Arafat banner hanging above road

438816

AP Television News

Ramallah, West Bank - 9 January 2005

Pool

Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) casts vote

438941

Pool

Ramallah - 10 January 2005

Pie chart showing percentage of votes of each candidate at Election Commission press conference

441401

AP Television News

Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt - 8 February 2005

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas shaking hands

441406

AP Television News

Sharm el-Sheik - 8 February 2004

Medium frontal shot of Sharon, Abbas, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordanian King Abdullah posing for photographers

11:17:36

Israel 's former President Ezer Weizman died in April, aged 80. A former combat pilot and military commander, Weizman had built up the nation's air force and helped bring about the Jewish state's first peace treaty with an Arab country. In nearly three decades in political life, Weizman had made a highly public transition from hawk to dove, saying the Jews had to learn to "share this part of the world" with the Arabs. As Defence Minister in 1979, he was instrumental in negotiating Israel 's peace treaty with Egypt . Weizman's casual style breathed life into the Israeli presidency, a largely ceremonial office, and endeared him to the Israeli public. His bluntness and sharp-tongued barbs often got him into trouble. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told a memorial service that the story of Weizman's was "the story of Israel ."

182757

AP Television News

FILE: Various dates and locations

Weizman and his wife Reuma during ceremony for Italian president, 11 October 1999

Weizman before speech to high school students where he spoke against gays, 23 December 1996

Weizman in Gaza for talks with Yasser Arafat, 6 May 1997

448638

Pool

Near Caesarea, northern Israel - 26 April 2005

Wide shot flag-draped coffin

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon approaches coffin

Reuma Weizman, widow of Ezer Weizman

Various coffin being carried to cemetery

11:18:07

Gaza Withdrawal

Prime Minister Sharon pushed ahead with his plan to disestablish 25 Jewish settlements in Gaza and the West Bank . But he faced bitter opposition from the settlers and their supporters. In July, opponents of the withdrawal plan gathered in the southern Israeli town of Netivot , for the first leg of a three-day protest march to Gaza , 25 kilometres (15 miles) away. But the police declared the march illegal and some 20-thousand police and soldiers were deployed at the scene to prevent them from going ahead. At the Kissufim Crossing between Gaza and Israel , troops started work on a barrier and wire fence to improve security at the crossing.

456333

AP Television News

Kissufim Crossing - 18 July 2005

Israeli soldier erecting a wall near the crossing

Wide shot of wall

456319

AP Television News

Netivot, southern Israel - 18 July 2005

High shot pan of thousands of people dancing at demonstration, UPSOUND singing and clapping

The first Jewish settlers to leave Gaza moved into temporary accommodation in the southern Israeli village of Nitzan at the start of August. Some 164 prefabricated houses had been built in Nitzan to house dozens of settler families expected to make the move. Officials estimate that about half of the 8,500 Gaza settlers will leave voluntarily before the forcible evacuation date of August 17, and the others would offer varying degrees of resistance. They settlements were the first to be removed since Israel captured the territories in the 1967 Mideast War. Hundreds of settlers at the Elei Sinai settlement in the northern Gaza strip attending a final gathering before they left the site at the end of a two week grace period after the formal withdrawal on August 1.

457514

AP Television News

Nitzan - 1 August 2005

Wide shot of "caravilla" (temporary/mobile home) site

Movers helping family unload van

458638

AP Television News

Elei Sinai Settlement, northern Gaza - 13 August 2005

UPSOUND (Hebrew) rabbi and settlement leader:

"We are not being expelled by a non-Jew. We are being taken out of here by Jews, and this is the pain. If a Gentile came and burned my house, if this Gentile shot a bullet in me, it wouldn't hurt me as much."

When the grace period was over, Israeli troops moved in to issue eviction notices to the remaining settlers. Defiant and tearful settlers locked the gates to their communities, formed human chains and burned tires to block troops from entering. In Gaza 's largest settlement, Neve Dekalim, residents blocked the main road, stopping army vehicles and scuffling with soldiers. Later they burnt the eviction notices. Police and soldiers waited in the sweltering sun and avoided confrontation at the behest of their commanders. In one scene, a sobbing settler pleaded with a brigadier general not to evict him before the two men embraced. In other communities, residents, many wearing orange -- their protest colour -- tearfully implored soldiers not to carry out their orders.

But the withdrawal went on regardless, and the troops dragged hundreds settlers from homes and synagogues and hauled them onto buses to new homes in the following days. In the West Bank , an Israeli settler was arrested for killing three Palestinians and wounding two others in a shooting spree that aroused fears of Palestinian retaliation and the disruption of the evacuation mission which had gone largely without serious violence. In Gaza , unarmed soldiers carried away worshippers still wrapped in their white prayer shawls, while wailing men ripped their shirts in a Jewish mourning ritual. One 54-year-old woman from the West Bank set herself on fire at a police roadblock in southern Israel to protest the Gaza pullout, suffering life-threatening burns on 70 percent of her body. In Morag, soldiers encountered cement blocks and burning garbage containers when they entered the settlement early on Wednesday, and briefly clashed with residents. But as the day dragged on, the protesters gradually surrendered and let themselves be carried away to buses.

458795

AP Television News

Neve Dekalim settlement, southern Gaza - 15 August 2005

Various shots of Israeli tanks and security forces marching down road

Various shots of scuffles between settlers and security forces

Various shots of settlers burning eviction notices

Gan Or, part of the Gush Katif settlement in southern Gaza - 15 August 2005

Wide of settlers by fence singing

Pan of settlers behind fence singing

458972

AP Television News

Neve Dekalim, Gaza - 17 August 2005

Various shots of of metal barricades burning in the street

Woman being carried by female security forces

Settler being forcibly put onto bus

Morag, Gaza

Door being broken down and soldiers enter

People standing on roof of house with Israeli flag

For comprehensive coverage of the 2006 war in Lebanon please see the Lebanon vol 4 clipreel

11:19:48

G00759

World News Review 2006

AP Television / Militant Video

Various Locations - 2006

In January, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon suffered a massive, life-threatening stroke. Some Israelis came to the Jerusalem Western Wall to pray for his health. Doctors placed Sharon on a respirator and were trying to save his life just hours before the overweight, 77-year-old was scheduled to undergo a procedure to seal a hole in his heart that contributed to a mild stroke on December 18.

Israel Radio quoted an unnamed Israeli health official as saying Sharon 's prospects of a full recovery from the 4 January stroke were slim. Sharon underwent emergency surgery after a brain scan revealed a rise in intracranial pressure and some bleeding in his brain.

Sharon 's health crisis comes at a time of upheaval among Palestinian factions in Gaza and in the midst of both Israeli and Palestinian election campaigns.

471685

AP Television

Jerusalem

Close-up of newspaper headlines

Three weeks earlier, as 2005 drew to a close, Israel denied a British newspaper report that it had plans to attack Iran in March 2006, though officials conceded that they would not rule out a military strike if Iran advanced its efforts to develop nuclear weapons.

London 's Sunday Times that said Israel has a plan for a combined air and ground attack on targets in Iran if diplomacy fails to stop the Iranian nuclear programme. Sharon 's inner Cabinet authorised the attack, the newspaper said. Vice Premier Ehud Olmert, a close confidant of Sharon , called the report "ridiculous."

Olmert became prime minister after Sharon suffered his stroke.

Israel has identified Iran as the greatest threat to the Jewish state and rejects Iran 's claims that its nuclear programme is solely for peaceful purposes.

469555

AP Television

Jerusalem , 11 Dec 2005

Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon opening meeting

Wide shot of Israeli cabinet; Vice Premier Ehud Olmert next to Sharon

The Islamic militant group Hamas has won a huge majority in parliamentary elections in January, winning 76 seats in the 132-member parliament, as Palestinian voters rejected the long-time rule of the ailing Fatah Party. Hamas' sweeping victory dramatically shook up the political landscape of the Middle East, propelling the Islamic militant group, which has sustained a bloody military campaign against Israel, and in turn had its last two leaders and countless other activists assassinated by the Jewish state, into government.

The Hamas victory reflected popular discontent with Fatah, the secular party that has led the Palestinian Authority since its creation 12 years ago and has been accused of widespread corruption and mismanagement.

In response, Israel halted crucial monthly payments to the Palestinian Authority, though it did not immediately block millions of dollars in humanitarian aid that moves through Israeli banks. In Gaza , Hamas' prime minister, Ismail Haniyeh, accused Israel of inflicting ongoing collective punishment on the Palestinian people.

Commenting on the halt in Israeli funds, Mahmoud Zahar, a senior Hamas leader from Gaza who has been nominated as the movement's parliamentary faction leader, said the group would not allow Israel to "strangulate or starve" the Palestinian people.

There are three and a half (m) million Palestinians living in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem .

11:20:02

473551

AP Television

Jerusalem , Israel - 25 January 2006

Sunrise over the Al Aqsa Mosque

Balata Refugee Camp, Nablus, West Bank

Gunmen handing over weapons before entering polling station

Interior polling station, man casting his vote

Azariya village, West Bank

Hamas flags on mosque minaret

11:20:20

473629

AP Television

Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip - 26 January 2006

Wide shot thousands of Hamas supporters marching in streets, with green Hamas flags and Palestinian flags

Hamas supporters chanting "Hamas"

Hamas supporters chanting slogans holding rifles

11:20:33

475670

AP Television

Gaza City , Gaza Strip - 17 Feb 2006

Hamas Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyeh, talking to media

Hamas member of parliament arriving

Interior shot of members of parliament in meeting with Haniyeh

Mahmoud Zahar, a Hamas leader from Gaza at the news conference

In April, a Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up near a fast food restaurant in a bustling commercial area of Tel Aviv during the Jewish holiday of Passover, killing six people and wounding at least 35 others. A security guard posted outside the restaurant, which had been the target of a previous suicide bombing last January, prevented the bomber from entering the building, police said.

It was the first suicide bombing in Israel since the Hamas militant group recently took over the Palestinian government. Hamas and other militant groups have been observing a cease-fire with Israel for more than a year, though the new Hamas-led Palestinian leadership has refused to condemn attacks against Israelis.

The bomber struck the same restaurant, "The Mayor's Felafel," that was hit by an attacker on January 19. In that attack, 20 people were wounded.

Later that day, police stopped a car with three suspected Palestinian accomplices the West Bank . They were filmed handcuffed and stripped down to their underpants in the Ofer camp on the West Bank side of the pre-1967 border, which is presently part of municipal Jerusalem .

The Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the bombing. In a phone call to the Associated Press, the group identified the bomber as Sami Salim Mohammed Hammad and later they released a video showing the purported suicide bomber reading a statement.

In response to the bombing, Israeli aircraft attacked an empty metal workshop in Gaza City , causing no injuries. The army said the workshop was used by the Popular Resistance Committees militant group to manufacture homemade rockets to launch at Israel .

11:20:52

481017

AP Television

Tel Aviv , Israel - 17 April 2006

Various of damaged restaurant, sirens

Wide of damage

11:21:08

481025

AP Television

Ofer Camp, municipal Jerusalem - 17 April 2006

Various of arrested men, stripped down to underpants, under Israeli soldiers'' guard

11:21:14

481045

MILITANT VIDEO - QUALITY AS INCOMING

++PLEASE NOTE: AP TELEVISION CANNOT VERIFY THE CONTENT, DATE OR LOCATION OF THE MILITANT VIDEO FOOTAGE++

Date and location unknown

1. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Sami Salim Mohammed Hammad, purported suicide bomber

"In the name of God, I would be a martyr. My name is Sami Salim Mohammed Hammad. I am the son of the Jerusalem Brigades of the Islamic Jihad.

11:21:25

481082

AP Television

Gaza Strip - 18 April 2006

Various of people searching through rubble

Man showing pieces of missile

A month later, Hamas gunmen traded heavy fire with Palestinian police near the parliament building in Gaza City , killing the driver of Jordan 's ambassador in Gaza . The diplomat's car was hit by three bullets fired into the windshield. The ambassador was not in the vehicle when it came under fire. The Hamas gunmen, holed up in an abandoned building during the battle, fired a rocket-propelled grenade and threw two hand grenades at the police, witnesses said.

Security officials said the incident began when members of a new Hamas militia stopped a car carrying members of the Preventive Security Service, a branch loyal to moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Preventive Security officials said Hamas militiamen fired at the car.

11:21:37

484341

AP Television

Gaza City , 22 May 2006

Wide shot of Gaza city

White Car stops in road, driver appears injured

Men surround Jordanian embassy car with bullet hole on windshield

Also in May, the funeral of assassinated Hamas security chief Abu Samhadana took place as hundreds of gunmen escorted his body from the morgue in Gaza to his house for a leave taking ceremony. No mosque could accommodate the tens of thousands expected to attend the funeral prayer in the Rafah refugee camp where Samhadana had lived, so a makeshift mosque was set up at the local stadium.

Palestinian militants vowed to avenge Israel 's assassination of Samhadana, an attack that threatened to ignite large-scale violence between the two sides. Hours after his death, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip fired two rockets into Israel , hitting a building in the southern town of Sderot , but causing no casualties, the military said.

Samhadana's appointment as Hamas' top enforcer helped to set the stage for recent Palestinian infighting that has killed 16 people and raised the spectre of all-out conflict between Hamas and the long-ruling Fatah movement it swept aside in January parliamentary elections.

11:22:08

486160

AP Television

Rafah, 9 June 2006

Masked gunmen marching

Masked gunmen on top of vehicle

Close shot, body of Jamal Abu Samhadana

In June, thousands of Palestinians joined the funeral procession of seven civilians killed when an Israeli artillery attack tore into a beachside picnic in Gaza . The mourners at the funeral procession in Beit Lahiya chanted "revenge, revenge" and "destroy Israel , destroy America " as they made their way through the town's narrow streets, carrying the victims' bodies.

The Israeli army said it had targeted areas in the northern Gaza Strip used by Palestinian militants to fire homemade rockets at Israel , but said that one artillery strike appeared to go off course. The beach attack prompted the military wing of the Islamic group Hamas to call off a 16-month-old truce with Israel .

11:22:37

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CLIENTS ARE ADVISED THIS ITEM CONTAINS FOOTAGE SOME CLIENTS MAY FIND DISTURBING

Gaza beach, near the city of Beit Lahyia , Gaza Strip - 9 June 2006

Cars at beach

Plastic toys on beach

Child lying on hospital bed

Beit Lahiya, Gaza Strip, 10 June 2006

Woman crying

Various of dead bodies wrapped in Hamas' flag in mosque

Funeral procession

Man carrying dead body of baby in procession

In a separate incident, hundreds of Palestinian security forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas went on a violent rampage against the Hamas-led government. They riddled the parliament and Cabinet buildings with bullets before setting them alight to protest an attack against their comrades in the Gaza Strip by Hamas gunmen, who had attacked a Preventive Security installation. The attack set off daylong clashes that left two people dead and 14 wounded.

The security men stormed the two-building Cabinet complex, where they smashed furniture, water coolers and air conditioners, destroyed computers and scattered documents. No casualties were reported.

When a fire engine approached the scene, one gunman lay on the road in front of it, preventing it from reaching the building. The Cabinet fire was eventually extinguished, but the crowd then set the second floor of the parliament building on fire.

11:23:14

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AP Television

Ramallah, 12 June 2006

++Night shots++

Gunmen shooting in the air

Exterior of PLC building

Broken windows scattered on ground

People at entrance to building, shots fired

Gunman on balcony of building

Palestinian security forces entering building

In Northern Gaza, Israeli aircraft fired missiles at a car in the crowded Jebaliya refugee camp, killing a teenage girl and two young children and wounding eight people. The Israeli military reported the car was carrying militants from the Al Aqsa martyrs' Brigades, affiliated with the Fatah movement of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.

It was at least the second Israeli military action against militants in recent weeks to claim civilian victims.

An air strike in early June killed eight civilians, in addition to the two militants it targeted. About 100-thousand Palestinians live in the Jebaliya camp, just north of Gaza City , making it the largest refugee camp in Gaza . Funerals were held the following day.

11:23:44

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AP Television

Gaza City , Gaza Strip - 20 June 2006

Car targeted by Israeli missile surrounded by people

Various of wounded children on stretcher

People gathered around body of boy killed in attack

11:24:01

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AP Television

Jebaliya, near Gaza city, Gaza Strip - 21 June 2006

Various of bodies of children carried by crowd through the street UPSOUND: gunshots and chanting

Men carrying dead bodies on stretchers

Israeli troops entered southern Gaza and planes attacked three bridges and a power station, knocking out electricity in most of the coastal strip, stepping up the pressure on Palestinian militants holding a 19-year-old Israeli soldier captive.

Israeli troops began taking up positions in two locations east of the Gaza town of Rafah under the cover of tank shells, according to witnesses and Palestinian security officials. Palestinians dug in behind walls and sand embankments, bracing for a major Israeli offensive.

Israel said only freedom for the captive soldier, Corporal Gilad Shalit, could defuse the crisis, not a political agreement.

Shalit was captured on 25 June 2006 in an attack on an army base in southern Israel by militants affiliated with the Palestinians' ruling Hamas party. The Palestinian government has called for the soldier's release, but Israel thinks the group's Syria-based leaders ordered the operation.

Palestinian groups say the attack and subsequent capture of Shalit was a response to several Israeli airstrikes that killed a number of their civilians.

Meanwhile, the Israeli army bombed a house in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, described by locals as a factory used by Palestinian militants to make and store rockets for use against Israel . According to eyewitnesses at the scene, an unmanned aerial vehicle fired a guided missile into a building.

The building is just a few kilometres (miles) from where an Israeli armoured column has pushed into Gaza and taken up positions at an abandoned airport, to try and force the release of Shalit. At Nahaloz, on the Israeli side of the border with Gaza , Israeli tanks were seen firing shells. Major General Yoav Galant, a commander in the Israeli Defence Force (IDF), said Israeli forces were "activating" in a few places in the Gaza Strip in an effort to secure the release of the soldier.

The ground offensive was Israel 's first since pulling all of its soldiers and settlers out of Gaza over the summer (2005).

Israeli forces arrested Palestinian deputy Prime Minister Nasser Shaer as part of their operation find Shalit. Shaer had criticised Israel 's operations: "There is a real disaster in Gaza now." The arrest of the seven Hamas cabinet ministers and 20 lawmakers is seen by some observers as an Israeli attempt to use them as bargaining chips to win the release of the soldier.

Israeli tanks in Nahal Oz, South Israel, launched artillery attacks on Gaza , partially destroying the office of Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas.

11:24:10

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Kerem Shalom Gate (border of Israel and Gaza ), 1.5 miles (two kilometres) south of Kerem Shalom - 28 June 2006

Wide of Israeli tanks

11:24:27

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AP Television

Rafah, Gaza Strip - 28 June 2006

Pan of firemen hosing wreckage of burning house

Nahaloz , Israel - near Gaza border

++DUSK SHOTS++

Various of tanks firing shells

11:24:37

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AP Television

Ramallah, West Bank, 28 June 2006

Palestinian Deputy Prime Minister Nasser Shaer

SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Nasser Shaer, Palestinian deputy prime minister:

"There is a real disaster in Gaza now."

11:24:44

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AP Television

Exterior of office of Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Hanyieh

Damage to structure

Interior - various of damage

Meanwhile, Israeli troops raided a Palestinian hospital in the West Bank city of Nablus , looking for a wanted man wounded in an earlier operation. The soldiers shot stun grenades and tear gas as they stormed the hospital, and once inside, put the doctors and nurses on one floor, they said. The target of the Israeli operation was a Palestinian wounded in an Israeli raid on the nearby Balata refugee camp in mid June, but it was not clear if he was in the hospital at the time. In Gaza , Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned overnight Israeli air-strikes, after a meeting with the UN special envoy to the Middle East .

11:24:58

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AP Television

Gaza - 2 July 2006

Various of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh walking through rubble at Haniyeh's damaged office

Nablus, West Bank

Israeli troops running to the front of the hospital

Injured man being rushed from shop across the street to the hospital

Israeli soldier rushing people and press out of the hospital

As the search for a captured Israeli soldier continued, Israeli aircraft hit several targets around the Gaza Strip, including a building in Gaza City where the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades has an office, Palestinians and the military said. The Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades are a violent offshoot of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement.

A missile struck the second floor of the two-story building, setting it on fire. No one was in the office at the time of the attack, after midnight. The strikes by the Israeli military followed a earlier warning from Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that he instructed the army to do all it could to free the captured soldier, Corporal Gilad Shalit.

As part of the operation to free Shalit, Israeli forces launched three attacks near Khan Younis in southern Gaza , killing two people and wounding several others. In one attack, an Israeli aircraft attacked a group of Palestinian militants, killing two people who were later identified as members of armed Palestinian groups.

The army confirmed it had carried out an airstrike in Khan Younis after Israeli forces were attacked with seven anti-tank missiles and a rocket. Palestinians were also injured in two other purported attacks near Khan Younis, though no further information was currently available about the incidents. The attacks come as Israel expanded its operation in Gaza . Officials decided to step up the offensive, after Palestinian militants from the ruling Hamas party fired two upgraded rockets into the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon .

11:25:18

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AP TELEVISION

++Night shots++

Gaza City - 3 July 2006

Various wide shots of explosions in the city (AUDIO: explosions)

Ambulance at scene of explosion

Pan across to fire burning on second floor of building

Fire in building

11:25:44

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AP TELEVISION

Khan Younis, 6 July 2006

Wide top shot of buildings, AUDIO of gunfire

Long shot of smoke rising from Israeli tank on cleared land

Masked gunmen walking past, one armed with rocket-propelled grenade launcher

Israeli helicopter firing missiles overhead, AUDIO of gunfire

Various of gunmen on the street, bystanders taking cover behind buildings

In October, frustrations boiled over in Gaza City as militiamen from the ruling Hamas party used guns and clubs to break up police protests over unpaid government salaries. Since Hamas won elections in January, Israel and the West have withheld tax payments and foreign aid in an effort to force Hamas to recognise and stop attacking Israel .

Two people were killed, including a 15-year-old boy, and at least 32 were wounded, including three schoolchildren and a TV cameraman for the Arab satellite TV station Al-Arabiya. After the crowd of protesters there swelled to include hundreds of police and civilians, Hamas militiamen rush in swinging clubs and firing in the air. Militiamen and security personnel - including members of Abbas' elite bodyguard unit - began trading fire on two of the main streets of Gaza City near parliament, and gunmen from both sides took positions on rooftops near the legislature.

In retaliation dozens of supporters from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah Party ransacked and torched the empty Council of Ministers building in the West Bank city of Ramallah , the seat of the Palestinian government.

Some of the militants set an office on the second floor on fire, and soon the entire floor was engulfed in flames. The militants threw files out the windows and witnesses could see pieces of furniture being thrown about.

11:26:12

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AP Television

Gaza - 1 October 2006

Wide shot Gaza skyline, audio of gunfire

Wide shot crowd at street, Hamas militiamen trying control the crowd

Various shooting by Hamas militiamen, people running away

Hamas militiamen beating one of protestors

11:26:40

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AP Television

Fatah protesters climbing the Palestinian Cabinet building

Fatah protesters storming the Cabinet building

Various of Fatah members smashing windows and equipment in building

Fatah guards standing outside the Cabinet building while protester smashes a window

Smoke pouring from building

Fire seen through barred window

Cabinet building and guards

11:27:08 END

English/Nat

Israel has begun withdrawing troops in the West Bank, though the handover was held up briefly when the Palestinians raised questions about last minute Israeli changes in the redeployment map.

After meeting with the Israeli troop commander in the West Bank, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat said the problem was resolved.

Once completed, the pullback would give Arafat full or partial control of an additional 9-point-1 per cent of the West Bank and take him a step closer to his final goal of statehood.

And while Palestinians celebrated in the streets across the West Bank, Israeli settlers expressed fears their security would be compromised.

After years of wrangling, the official handover of the first part of the West Bank began on Friday with a handshake.

The Israeli troop withdrawal was held up for about two hours earlier today (on Friday) because the Palestinians raised questions about last minute Israeli changes in the redeployment map.

The Israeli troop commander in the West Bank, Major General Moshe Yaalon, was called in to meet with Arafat and reviewed the maps.

Later, a tired but triumphant-looking Arafat emerged from the meeting and said the problem was resolved.

That set off celebrations by Palestinians across the West Bank, who have waited through two years of U-S led negotiations and bitter disputes, in the wake of the Oslo Accord, for today's withdrawal.

Many simply sat and listened to the news, seemingly not believing it was happening.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"We're very happy, all the people are happy."

SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop, Kabatia Resident

The Israeli cabinet gave the final go-ahead on Thursday to withdrawing troops from a chunk of the West Bank the size of Chicago.

Today the new borders were being laid out, and control of the borders handed over.

No army bases or Jewish settlements will be dismantled in the withdrawal, and the Israeli commander in the West bank insisted on Friday that Jewish settlers in the area will still be protected.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"We shall continue to give security and all the things needed to keep the regular life of the Israeli citizens in this area."

SUPER CAPTION: Yitzhak Eitan, Head of Israeli Troops in West Bank

But in the Jewish settlement of Ganim, located in the heart of the area handed over, the streets were deserted on Friday as news of the pullout was greeted with alarm.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"I can not trust the Palestinian police to keep my security. I can only trust my army and I can only trust my police, but not the Palestinian police. They are not part of my people. They are not my .... I have no connection to them."

SUPER CAPTION: Jewish Settler

The Israeli withdrawal has been deeply unpopular with Jewish hardliners, and that has increased pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

And as fresh border posts were being set up to demarcate the new borders between Israeli- and Palestinian-controlled areas, Netanyahu was facing mounting challenges from hawkish allies who have threatened to topple his government.

As a result, he's reportedly considering early elections.

In addition to the troop pullouts and the prisoner handover, the Palestinians will finally get their own airport.

In Tel Aviv on Friday, Palestinian officials met their Israeli counterparts to sign the protocol that will enable the opening.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"I consider that is very important for the Palestinians as human beings to have this right to depart from their own airport very easily very quickly and to be connected to other airports in the area, as in the world, as in any human being in the world."

SUPER CAPTION: Fayez Zaidan, Head of Palestinian Civil Aviation Authority

The airport in Gaza has been nearly completed for months.

Now - with just two days to go before the opening - the finishing touches are being made, paving the way for future visitors to Palestinian territory to avoid passing through Israel.

Friday evening, as Palestinian ministers gathered in Hebron for a cabinet meeting, one warned against future Israeli moves that could delay the process ahead.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"We really urge the Israeli government now, since we are about to resume the permanent status negotiations next week, that they will refrain from any unilateral steps that may preempt the permanent status talks especially settlements, confiscation of land, aborting of trade."

SUPERCAPTION: Saeb Erikat, Palestinian Cabinet Minister

Palestinian officials already have complained about which prisoners the Israelis released under another part of the interim peace deal.

The majority of those given their freedom today were common criminals, rather than those jailed for fighting Israeli occupation as the Palestinians requested.

Jenin, Hebron, Kabatia, and Ganim Settlement in the West Bank; Tel Aviv, Israel - 20, 18 November 1998

Jenin - 20 Nov

1. Israeli and Palestinian Security officials shaking hands

Hebron - 20 Nov

2. Israeli West Bank Troop Commander Maj. Gen. Moshe Yaalon arrives to meet Arafat

3. Back shot of Yaalon walking in

4. Arafat comes out of office

Jenin - 20 Nov

5. Palestinians in cars waving Palestinian flags, waving and honking horns

Kabatia - 20 Nov

6. Palestinians in the street

7. Listening to the radio with news on redeployment

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Vox Pop, Kabatia resident

Jenin - 20 Nov

9. Israeli truck unloading roadblocks for new border

10. Guard standing by fence

11. Truck with roadblocks

12. Palestinian officials at border

Jenin - 20 Nov

13. Wide of Yitzhak Eitan talking to reporters

14. SOUNDBITE: (English) Yitzhak Eitan, Head of Israeli Troops in West Bank

Ganim Settlement - 20 Nov

15. Pull back to show empty streets

16. Pan across another empty street

17. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jewish Settler

18. Young man waters plants

19. Wide of gate into settlement

Jenin - 20 Nov

20. Cement blocks for new border post being lifted by crane

21. Various of ground being prepared

22. Israeli truck

Tel Aviv - 20 Nov

23. Walk up of Palestinian officials (wearing jackets) and Israeli official (wearing shirt)

24. SOUNDBITE: (English) Fayez Zaidan, Head of Palestinian Civil Aviation Authority

Gaza - 18 Nov

25. Wide shot Palestinian airlines plane

26. Close shot plane

27. Wide shot airport building, men working on runway

Hebron - 20 Nov

28. Palestinian ministers arrive for cabinet meeting

29. SOUNDBITE: (English) Saeb Erikat, Palestinian Cabinet Minister

30. Various of inside meeting

SHOTLIST

Ramallah, West Bank - 21 November 2004

1. Palestinian cabinet minister Saeb Erekat seated

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Saeb Erekat, Palestinian cabinet minister

"We want Mr Powell and the United States to ensure that we have free and fair elections with the participation of Palestinians from the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. We want to ensure that the freedom of movement of our people, candidates, voters, parties is an imperative in the West Bank and Gaza and between the West Bank and Gaza. And we hope that the United States can guarantee this, along with the other members of the Quartet."

3. UN Middle East envoy Terje Roed Larsen coming out after meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Terje Roed Larsen, UN Middle East envoy:

"Even more important that Israel starts pulling back troops from the cities of the West Bank, that they do absolutely everything to facilitate free and fair elections and that there is no way of trying to influence the outcome of those elections from the Israeli side. This should be solely an affair for the Palestinian people."

Jerusalem - 21 November 2004

5. Israeli Foreign ministry official Marc Regev walking

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Marc Regev, Israeli Foreign Ministry official:

"We have every intention of redeploying so as to allow them to have their process of election. That is our intention and that is our hope. After all, a successful Palestinian Authority is good for Israel. We'd like to have a partner on the other side. Now the only thing I could say to the interim Palestinian leadership is if they could help us by coming down on the terrorists, that would make it a little bit easier for Israel to do our redeployment. But we have every intention, every intention, of being forthcoming on this issue."

Nablus, West Bank - 20 November 2004

Night shots:

7. Ambulances outside hospital, their lights flashing

8. Crush of people around bodies of two Palestinian children

9. Woman in white headscarf screaming and being led away

10. Bodies of two Palestinian teenagers in morgue

11. Crowd of Palestinians in morgue

Nablus, West Bank - 21 November 2004

12. Funeral procession carrying bodies

13. Various of mourners chanting for revenge as they carry body

14. Men carrying guns and chanting

15 Various of funeral procession

16. Women in doorway crying

STORYLINE

Palestinian leaders on Sunday urged US Secretary of State Colin Powell to put pressure on Israel to withdraw troops from disputed areas in the West Bank before holding elections to replace longtime leader Yasser Arafat.

Palestinian cabinet minister Saeb Erekat also said that the Palestinians were willing to meet the Israeli side to coordinate the elections - scheduled for January 9 - as soon as possible.

The Palestinians have demanded that Israel withdraw troops from Palestinian areas to permit elections to go forward smoothly, arguing that large Israeli troop concentrations in Palestinian urban areas would intimidate voters.

The Palestinian Authority was trying to rebuild security forces and prevent a flare- up in violence before the first presidential vote in the Palestinian areas since 1996.

Palestinian officials have warned that armed gangs could foment chaos in an attempt to disrupt the elections.

Also on Sunday, UN Middle East envoy Terje Roed Larsen called upon the Israelis to withdraw its troops from the West Bank in order to allow free and democratic elections to take place, a request which Israel has rebuffed in the past.

Israel has stated an interest in ensuring smooth elections but officials have not yet committed to pulling back troops from Palestinian communities for the vote.

However, on Sunday, Israeli Foreign Ministry official Marc Regev did say that Israel would do its best to ensure fair elections by redeploying its troops from the area, saying that Israel had an interest in an outcome which produced a well-functioning Palestinian Authority.

Underscoring the troubled security situation in the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and killed two 15-year old Palestinian boys throwing stones at Israeli jeeps in the West Bank city of Nablus on Saturday night, according to Palestinian hospital officials.

On Sunday, hundreds of mourners filled the streets of Nablus for the boys' funeral procession.

The Israeli army said it opened fire on two Palestinians who were shooting at them, but added it didn't know if they died.

SHOTLIST:

Ramallah, West Bank

1. Palestinian cabinet minister Saeb Erekat seated

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Saeb Erekat, Palestinian Cabinet Minister:

"We want Mr Powell and the United States to ensure that we have free and fair elections with the participation of Palestinians from the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. We want to ensure that the freedom of movement of our people, candidates, voters, parties is an imperative in the West Bank and Gaza, and between the West Bank and Gaza. And we hope that the United States can guarantee this along with the other members of the Quartet."

3. UN Middle East envoy Terje Roed Larsen coming out after meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Terje Roed Larsen, UN Middle East envoy:

"Even more important that Israel starts pulling back troops from the cities of the West Bank, that they do absolutely everything to facilitate free and fair elections and that there is no way of trying to influence the outcome of those elections from the Israeli side. This should be solely an affair for the Palestinian people."

Jerusalem

5. Israeli Foreign ministry official Marc Regev walking

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Marc Regev, Israeli Foreign Ministry official:

"We have every intention of redeploying so as to allow them (the Palestinians) to have their process of election. That is our intention and that is our hope. After all a successful Palestinian Authority is good for Israel. We'd like to have a partner on the other side. Now the only thing I could say to the interim Palestinian leadership is if they could help us by coming down on the terrorists, that would make it a little bit easier for Israel to do our redeployment. But we have every intention, every intention of being forthcoming on this issue."

Nablus, West Bank

7. Funeral procession carrying bodies

8. Various of mourners chanting for revenge as they carry body

9. Men carrying guns and chanting

10 Various of funeral procession

11. Women in doorway crying

STORYLINE:

Palestinian leaders urged US Secretary of State Colin Powell to put pressure on Israel to withdraw troops from disputed areas in the West Bank before holding elections to replace longtime leader Yasser Arafat, Palestinian cabinet minister Saeb Erekat said on Sunday.

Erekat also said that the Palestinians were willing to meet with the Israeli side to coordinate the elections - scheduled for January 9th (2005)- as soon as possible.

The Palestinians have demanded that Israel withdraw troops from Palestinian areas to permit elections to go forward smoothly, arguing that large Israeli troop concentrations in Palestinian urban areas will intimidate voters.

The Palestinian Authority was trying to rebuild security forces and prevent a flare- up in violence before the first presidential vote in the Palestinian areas since 1996.

Palestinian officials have warned that armed gangs could foment chaos in an attempt to disrupt the elections.

Also on Sunday, UN Middle East envoy Terje Roed Larsen called upon the Israelis to withdraw its troops from the West Bank in order to allow free and democratic elections to take place, a request which Israel has rebuffed in the past.

Israel has stated an interest in ensuring smooth elections but officials have not yet committed to pull back troops from Palestinian communities for the vote.

However, on Sunday, Israeli foreign ministry official Marc Regev said that Israel will do its best to ensure fair elections by redeploying its troops from the area, saying that Israel had an interest in an outcome which produced a well-functioning Palestinian Authority.

Underscoring the troubled security situation in the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and killed two 15-year old Palestinian boys throwing stones at Israeli jeeps in the West Bank city of Nablus on Saturday night, according to Palestinian hospital officials.

On Sunday, hundreds of mourners filled the streets of Nablus for the boys' funeral procession.

The Israeli army said it opened fire on two Palestinians who were shooting at them, but that it didn't know if they died.

English/Nat

VOICE OVER: SALLY MOORE

The Israeli Cabinet gave the go-ahead on Thursday for the first withdrawal of troops from the West Bank in two years.

The cabinet has narrowly approved the first stage of troop withdrawal called for by the Wye peace accord signed last month.

The approval comes after ministers agreed the Palestinians had met their obligations under the land-for-security accord.

00:01

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu finally convinced his cabinet colleagues to hand over more land to the Palestinians, but in the end it was a close call.

00:11

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"The cabinet has taken a decision to implement Israel's obligation under the Wye agreement. This means that Israel will withdraw from two per cent of the West Bank. It will sign a protocol on the opening of first international airport of the Palestinian authority in the Gaza district, and it will release 250 prisoners."

SUPERCAPTION: David Bar-Illan, Senior Adviser to Prime Minister Netanyahu

00:35

Soon after the decision, Israeli soldiers in the West Bank started unloading concrete slabs that will form roadblocks at the new border.

00:43

Israeli commanders met with their Palestinian counterparts to hand over maps of the occupied territories and complete preparations for the troop withdrawal from the West Bank.

00:55

There were celebrations in the West Bank as Palestinian soldiers paraded through the streets.

1.01

The pull back is already five days behind schedule after a series of delays and disputes.

01:08

Palestinian chairman Yasser Arafat has vowed to do all possible to move the peace process forward, but some Palestinians fear further setbacks.

01:16

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"I hope that there will be no other hesitations, no other reluctance and no other delays."

SUPER CAPTION: Ahmed Tibi, senior adviser to Yasser Arafat

01:23

Many settlers are now worried for their safety, despite Palestinian assurances of a crackdown on militants

01:30

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"There are some people who are afraid and want to leave - it causes a lot of stress and fear. There are others who don't want to leave - I don't want to leave at all."

SUPER CAPTION: Sara Shienmen, Israeli settler

01:43

The first phase of the troop pullback begins on Friday - but with the Israelis already planning further settlements in disputed areas of the West Bank the atmosphere remains volatile.

ENDS: 01:55

Jerusalem and Jenin Area, Psagot, Kadin and Maa'le Amos settlements, West Bank, 19 November 1998

Jerusalem

00:00 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives for cabinet meeting

00:05 Wide shot of round table meeting

00:09 Setup shot David Bar Illan

00:11 SOUNDBITE: David Bar Illan, senior aide to Benjamin Netanyahu

Maa'le Amos, West Bank

00:35 Truck unloading roadblocks to mark the new border

00:40 Close up concrete block

Jenin, West Bank - 19 November 1998

00:43 Israeli soldier hands map of occupied territory to Palestinian Army officer

00:53 Wide shot soldiers marching

01:00 Close up shot of soldier marching, pullout to wide shot of soldiers

Hebron

01:07 Guards await inspection by Yasser Arafat

01:10 Close-up Arafat, pullout to Arafat salutes

Jerusalem

01:16 SOUNDBITE (English Ahmed Tibi, senior adviser to Yasser Arafat

Psagot settlement, near Ramallah

01:23 Settler children

Kadin settlement, West Bank

01:30 SOUNDBITE: (English) Sara Shienmen

Psagot settlement, near Ramallah

01:43 Settlement sign warning of electric fence

01:46 Israeli soldier outside settlement

01:49 Close up patrol car, pullout to wide shot of land, bunker in foreground

ENDS: 01.55

Natural Sound

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has briefed his Cabinet on last week's Washington summit when he discussed plans for a troop redeployment in the West Bank with U-S President Bill Clinton.

Despite pressure from the Palestinian Authority and the U-S, the Israeli government has so far failed to reach a decision on the extent of the West Bank pullback - or when it will take place.

Sunday's Cabinet meeting took place amid reports that the U-S is likely to propose that Israel pull out of 12 percent of the West Bank in three stages.

Benjamin Netanyahu revealed details of his Washington trip to his Cabinet for the first time on Sunday.

Netanyahu met President Clinton to discuss progress on an agreement made with the Palestinian National Authority last year, under which Israel promised three troop withdrawals from the West Bank by the middle of 1998.

So far, none of the withdrawals has materialised, and the Clinton administration had urged Netanyahu to announce plans to carry out a redeployment in Washington.

The Palestinian Authority, whose leader, Yasser Arafat, also met President Clinton last week, has demanded that Israel withdraw from at least 60 percent of the West Bank immediately, before sitting down to talks on a final peace settlement.

But the Israeli Cabinet has still to make up its mind on how much of the West Bank it will evacuate - and when.

The Israeli government is reported to be considering a single pullout of 10 percent, but some days ago it published a 12-page list of conditions it insisted the Palestinians must meet before West Bank pullbacks will begin.

There were reports on Sunday that the U-S is likely to propose that Israel pull out of 12 percent of the West Bank in three stages over an 80-day period.

The proposal would suggest the pull back would be in return for a Palestinian fulfillment of security commitments.

U-S Secretary of State Madeleine Albright is expected to raise the proposal with Netanyahu and Arafat in upcoming meetings.

Meanwhile, with tension running high over the stalemate in the peace process, Israeli security forces are still on high alert for possible attacks on civilians.

On Sunday, explosives experts blew up a suspicious object found in a Jerusalem bus station after police cleared the area.

Officials later confirmed that the object was an innocent package.

Suicide bombers from the armed Islamic group Hamas carried out a number of attacks in Jerusalem last year, killing dozens of people at a critical stage in the Arab-Israeli peace talks.

Jerusalem - 25 January 1998

1. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arriving for Cabinet meeting

2. Defence Minister Yitzhak Mordechai and other ministers arriving for meeting

3. Ministers stand for one minute silence for education minister Zevulun Hammer who died last week

4. Pan across all ministers, zoom in on Netanyahu seated at cabinet meeting

5. Wide shot ministers seated around table

6. Close shot Ariel Sharon, Infrastructure Minister

7. Close shot Netanyahu, pull out to mid shot

8. Orthodox ministers, pan across Cabinet table

9. Wide shot bus station

10. Bomb squad member setting up detonator in front of emergency vehicle

11. Wide shot evacuated crowds standing outside bus station

12. Mid shot suspicious object being blown up

13. Crowds walk away

Hebrew/Eng/Nat

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked his Cabinet on Wednesday to support his plan for a limited withdrawal of Israeli troops from the West Bank.

The proposal has caused internal cabinet turmoil, with Foreign Minister David Levy pledging to resign if ministers do not follow through on it.

In response, Palestinians officials indicated on Wednesday that no deal had been reached with Israel over new troop withdrawals.

During a visit to the West Bank city of Nablus, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat denied that any proposals made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been accepted.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is hoping that his cabinet will support his latest plan to get Middle East peace negotiations back on track.

The proposal would withdraw Israeli troops in the West Bank by six to eight percent in exchange for Palestinian action to fight terrorism.

It has already drawn threats from Netanyahu's hardline opponents, who vow the issue will topple his government if it succeeds.

The plan's fate could be troubled if it cannot get agreement among cabinet ministers, let alone with Palestinian negotiators on the other side.

Even among his political allies, Netanyahu's plan has put the government in turmoil.

Foreign Minister David Levy has said he will resign from his post if Israel's own government blocks the latest attempts to break the Middle East stalemate.

SOUNDBITE: (Hebrew)

"If the government will not decide, if it will not advance with the peace process, that I say, it will stay as it is, the situation will worsen and the outcome will be much worse. Instead of leading we will be led. There is no point to stay in a government like that."

SUPER CAPTION: David Levy, Israeli Foreign Minister

Other ministers, however, spelled out the differences that remain before any decision on the plan is reached.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"The government will not take decisions that will not be at least, that the majority of the ministers will not support of course."

SUPER CAPTION: Avigdor Kahalani, Interior Security Minister

The proposal appears to enjoy even less support in its early stages with the Palestinian leaders it is intended to placate.

Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat arrived in the West Bank city of Nablus to discuss the status of the Middle East peace process.

Arafat sat down with Norwegian Foreign Minister Knut Vollebek, in the hope that an objective outsider like Norway might shed some light on how to break the impasse.

But the topic reporters pressed him on was the "package deal" being discussed in Jerusalem.

As well as facing debate within the Israeli cabinet, the plan was reportedly already rejected by Arafat in a phone call with Netanyahu.

When asked by reporters about the suggestion of pulling Israeli troops out by six to eight percent - Arafat appeared to dismiss the plan.

He simply emphasised the importance of troop redeployment in theory as a prerequisite for peace.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

Q: Do you accept 6-8 percent of the West Bank as a proposal?

"Until now, I have no proposal."

Q: Is this a basis for negotiations?

"The principle of speaking about further redeployment is very important to push forth the peace process."

SUPER CAPTION: Yasser Arafat, Palestinian leader

Details of the plan remain unclear, but there are reports that Palestinian leaders are seeking a pullout two to three times the size put forth by Netanyahu.

Saeb Erekat, the Palestinian's chief negotiator, dismissed the Netanyahu proposal even more bluntly.

He said Israel has yet to put forward a real plan and challenged Netanyahu to provide specifics through the proper diplomatic channels.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"There is no Israeli offer. There is nothing introduced to us in order to say 'yes' or 'no.' And we cannot conduct our negotiations with Mr. Netanyahu through his balloon tests and through the media waves."

SUPER CAPTION: Saeb Erekat, chief Palestinian negotiator

While the Israeli cabinet and Netanyahu's political friends and foes debate the proposal, his government spokesman insists it deserves serious consideration.

Moshe Fogel put the pressure on the Palestinians, saying the peace process hangs in uncertainty until they commit themselves to fighting terrorism.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"Well, we are now examining the scope of the further redeployments, but it is clear that we are prepared to go ahead with further redeployments as long as the Palestinians will start fighting terror. And if we see a determination on the part of the Palestinian Authority to fight terror, to live up to their commitments in the context of the Oslo accords, then yes, we will be prepared to go ahead with further redeployments."

SUPER CAPTION: Moshe Fogel, Israeli Government spokesman

Netanyahu's government tried to put a positive face on the latest development in the Israeli-Palestinian standoff.

But with ultra-nationalist opponents threatening Netanyahu's downfall if more land is handed to Arafat, the internal politics in Israel may ultimately steer his course.

Jerusalem, Israel; Nablus and Ramallah, West Bank - 26 November, 1997

Jerusalem, Israel:

1. Pan of cabinet ministers at table

2. Two shot of Prime Minister Netanyahu and Foreign Minister David Levy

3. Ministers

4. Prime Minister Netanyahu coming out of meeting

5. David Levy walking, entering room

6. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew): David Levy, Israeli Foreign Minister

7. David Levy walking away

8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Avigdor Kahalani, Interior Security Minister

Nablus, West Bank:

9. Arafat cavalcade arriving to bands playing

10. Arafat photo op with Norwegian Foreign Minister Knut Vollebek

11. Closeup of Arafat

12. Arafat walking out

13. Cutaway Arafat and crowd outside

14. SOUNDBITE: (English) Yasser Arafat, Palestinian leader

15. Arafat walking away

Ramallah, West Bank:

16. Exterior Palestinian council building

17. Wide shot interior Palestinian council meeting

18. Chief Palestinian Negotiator Saeb Erekat talking in council

19. SOUNDBITE: (English) Saeb Erekat, chief Palestinian negotiator

20. Erekat walking into building

Jerusalem, Israel:

21. Set up shot of Moshe Fogel, Israeli Government spokesman, in office

22. SOUNDBITE: (English) Moshe Fogel, Israeli Government spokesman

23. Fogel answering telephone

Arabic/Eng

The Israeli cabinet has given the go-ahead for the first withdrawal of troops from the West Bank in two years.

The cabinet narrowly approved the first stage of troop withdrawal called for by the Wye peace accord signed last month.

Approval came after a series of delays and disputes with the Palestinians and stage one of the pullback, expected to be completed by Friday, is five days behind schedule.

The shape of things to come.

Just hours after the Israeli cabinet voted to give the green light to a first pullback from the West Bank, Israeli trucks unloaded roadblocks to mark the new borders.

In the first stage of the pullback - expected to be completed by Friday - two percent of the West Bank will be transferred from sole Israeli control to joint jurisdiction.

In addition, seven-point-one percent of the land will be moved from joint jurisdiction

to sole Palestinian control.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"The cabinet has taken a decision to implement Israel's obligation under the Wye agreement. This means that Israel will withdraw from two percent of the West Bank. It will sign a protocol on the opening of first international airport of the Palestinian Authority in the Gaza district, and it will release 250 prisoners."

SUPER CAPTION: David Bar-Illan, Senior Adviser to Prime Minister Netanyahu

The Wye accord has polarised ministers since it was hammered out last month.

The Israeli prime minister, arriving for a special cabinet meeting to discuss it, knew its was going to be a bumpy ride.

In the end the vote was a close one - just two votes difference at seven to five.

The decision to pull the troops out is the surest sign yet that Netanyahu and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat are back on the road to peace.

Despite recent controversial comments on a Palestinian state with its capital in Jerusalem - Arafat has pressed hard for a continuation of negotiations.

A number of his council members remain optimistic - but wary.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"This is the first portion of the land that Israel has to evacuate according to the Wye Plantation memorandum. I hope that the Israeli government will continue in implementing this memorandum, and evacuate and redeploy in the rest of the Palestinian territory and not try to make the whole issue this small area which they have been redeployed in, or that they are willing to redeploy in."

SUPER CAPTION: Ziad Abu Ziad Palestinian council member

Palestinian residents of the areas soon to be vacated by the Israelis are looking forward to the new control.

VOXPOP: (English)

"We are very happy to see the Israelis go out and the Palestinians come in."

SUPER CAPTION: Palestinian Resident of Jenin

But another aspect of the agreement -- concerning the release of Palestinian prisoners -- appears to be more controversial.

In addition to the first troop pullback, Israel was to release 250 Palestinian prisoners.

The parents of one prisoner are eagerly looking forward to their son's return.

SOUNDBITE: (Arabic)

"I wish to see my son and spend the rest of life with him, I call on god to release my son and all the rest of the prisoners."

SUPER CAPTION: Mother of Palestinian prisoner

But many Palestinians say Israel has breached its promises by offering to free mostly

criminals rather than security prisoners.

One Palestinian spokesman has already complained that their negotiators didn't go all the way to Washington for talks just to see the release of criminals and car thieves.

There is also fear among some Israeli settlers.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"There are some people who are afraid and want to leave - it causes a lot of stress and fear. There are others who don't want to leave - I don't want to leave at all."

SUPER CAPTION: Sara Shienmen, Israeli settler

No army bases or Jewish settlements will be dismantled.

Instead, Israeli troops will move large black-and-yellow road markers to show the new lines of division.

Maa'le Amos, Jerusalem, Hebron, Gaza, Jenin Area, Kadin settlement, 19 November 1998

Maa'le Amos, West Bank

1. Various of trucks unloading roadblocks to mark the new border

Jerusalem

2. David Bar-Illan, Netanyahu's adviser

3. SOUNDBITE (English) David Bar-Illan, Senior Adviser to Prime Minister Netanyahu

Jerusalem

4. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arriving for cabinet meeting

5. Various round table shots of meeting

Hebron

6. Arafat's helicopter arrives

7. Cutaway to guard

8. Arafat walking on tarmac

Gaza

9. Ziad Abu Ziad

10. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ziad Abu Ziad Palestinian council member

Jenin Area, northern West Bank (First Ran Europe Morning 0900 19 Nov)

11. Mid shot minaret

12. Various of Palestinians

13. VOXPOP: (English) Palestinian

Gaza

14. Mid shot family

15. Mid shot father with photo of his son

16. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Mother of Palestinian prisoner

Kadin settlement, West Bank

17. Tracking shot of settlement

18. Setup shot Sara Shienmen

19. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sara Shienmen

20. Children playing

Psagot settlement, near Ramallah

21. Bunker

22. Israeli soldier outside settlement

23. Settlement sign

English/Nat

Israeli and Palestinian negotiating teams resumed talks Monday on a deal to pull most Israeli troops out of the West Bank town of Hebron and a further three-stage redeployment.

Following the establishment of a key agreement between the two parties, hopes are running high for a summit between the two leaders.

The agreement -- secured by King Hussein of Jordan -- allows Israel to prolong its three- stage withdrawal from the West Bank until mid-1998.

Israeli and Palestinian negotiators met Monday morning at a Jerusalem hotel to try and draft the agreement under which Israel would withdraw troops from West Bank areas ending in mid-1998.

The emerging accord also sets the stage for a long-overdue Israeli troop pull back in Hebron.

It came after an intervention by Jordan's King Hussein and continued pressure from U-S envoy Dennis Ross.

In a key compromise, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat told Hussein he would agree to a U-S proposal to allow Israel to prolong its West Bank pullout which originally was to be completed by September.

Arafat agreed to the compromise after being assured by Ross that the United States would guarantee the Israeli withdrawal in a separate document, to be attached to the agreement.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, arriving for Monday's talks, was cautious when asked whether the elusive agreement on Hebron and the West Bank troop pullback could finally be completed Monday.

SOUNDBITE:

"We have protocol for Hebron, we have the whole further redeployment accord, we have many other things that we need to work. Let's see, we have all day today and the time we finish all these issues, we will refer to President Arafat and I'm sure President Arafat and Prime Minister Netanyahu will decide whether to take us further."

Q: "That will be today, do you think?"

"I don't know - depends on our ability to continue."

SUPER CAPTION: Saeb Erekat, Chief Palestinian Negotiator

The remaining sticking points to an agreement include a timetable for the release of Palestinian security prisoners and security arrangements for a Palestinian airport.

Netanyahu was sharply criticised Monday by hard-liners in his cabinet, and at least seven ministers in his 18-member cabinet were expected to vote against the accord.

Cabinet approval is not legally required, but it would be difficult for Netanyahu to proceed without the support of a majority of his ministers.

Israeli settlers have attacked the softening of Netanyahu's approach to the Palestinians - he came to power on a platform of no dialogue with his Palestinian neighbours.

SOUNDBITE:

"It's a shame to Mister Netanyahu that he is ready to give up the land of Israel, his vision, other vision, his writings, everything. But it will not help him - he has no majority to give 95 percent of Judea and Samaria (Hebrew: the West Bank) in the government and I'm sure there's nothing in the signatures that are going to celebrate here in this hotel in Jerusalem."

SUPER CAPTION: Benny Alon, Settler

The emerging deal would constitute the first progress since Netanyahu came to power in May's elections.

It would also help calm Arab-Israeli tension which were greatly heightened by doubts Netanyahu was committed to the peace process.

Israel's government spokesman says he hopes agreement could be reached.

SOUNDBITE:

"The agreement regarding the Israeli redeployment in Hebron has been settled. The outstanding issue regarding the further redeployment issues can be settled today if Chairman Arafat agrees to the compromise on the table. Certainly, from our point of view, we believe that it's important to go forward in the peace process and we're hoping the Palestinians will see eye-to-eye with our point of view."

SUPER CAPTION: Moshe Fogel, Israeli Government Spokesman

The U-S brokered talks have be underway since October, when Washington intervened following clashes between Israelis and Palestinians in which 79 people were killed.

The Hebron pullout is far more sensitive than Israeli withdrawals from other West Bank cities because of the presence of 500 Jewish settlers amid its 130-thousand Palestinians.

Jerusalem, Gaza and Hebron, 13 January 1997

Jerusalem:

1. Various exteriors: Laromme hotel

2. US Consul Ed Abington arriving for talks

3. Erekat arriving for talks

4. SOUNDBITE: Saeb Erekat, Chief Palestinian Negotiator

5. Palestinian negotiator Hassan Asfour arriving

6. Photographers

7. Set up shot: Benny Alon, settler

8. SOUNDBITE: Benny Alon, Settler

9. Various: negotiators arriving

10. SOUNDBITE: Moshe Fogel, Israeli Government Spokesman

Gaza:

11. Yasser Arafat arriving at his office.

12. Israeli soldiers waiting by roadblock

13. Palestinian children watching Israeli soldiers

14. Various: people looking at newspapers

15. Various: Palestinian market.

English/Nat

Israeli and Palestinian negotiating teams resumed talks Monday to draft a deal to pull most Israeli troops out of the West Bank town of Hebron.

Following the establishment of a key agreement between the two parties, hopes are running high for a summit between the two leaders.

The agreement -- secured by King Hussein of Jordan -- allows Israel to prolong its three- stage withdrawal from the West Bank until mid-1998.

Israeli and Palestinian negotiators met Monday morning at a Jerusalem hotel to try and draft the agreement under which Israel would withdraw troops from West Bank areas ending in mid-1998.

The emerging accord also sets the stage for a long-overdue Israeli troop pull back in Hebron.

It came after an intervention by Jordan's King Hussein and continued pressure from U-S envoy Dennis Ross.

In a key compromise, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat told Hussein he would agree to a U-S proposal to allow Israel to prolong its West Bank pullout.

That was originally due to be completed by September.

Arafat agreed to the compromise after being assured by Ross the United States would guarantee the Israeli withdrawal in a separate document, to be attached to the agreement.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat was cautious when asked whether the elusive agreement on Hebron and the West Bank troop pullback could finally be completed Monday.

SOUNDBITE:

\"We have protocol for Hebron, we have the whole further redeployment accord, we have many other things that we need to work. Let's see, we have all day today and the time we finish all these issues, we will refer to President Arafat and I'm sure President Arafat and Prime Minister Netanyahu will decide whether to take us further.\"

Q: \"That will be today, do you think?\"

\"I don't know - depends on our ability to continue.\"

SUPER CAPTION: Saeb Erekat, Chief Palestinian Negotiator

The remaining sticking points to an agreement include a timetable for the release of Palestinian prisoners and security arrangements for a Palestinian airport.

Israeli settlers, who demonstrated against the talks, have attacked the softening of Netanyahu's approach to the Palestinians.

Netanyahu came to power on a platform of no dialogue with his Palestinian neighbours.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

\"We have no loyalty to any people or to any government, we are loyal to some ideology which is the safe guard of the people of Israeli in its homeland. If this government is going to go in the path of the previous government and betray its electorates we will demonstrate as harsh and fierce as we demonstrated against the previous government\"

SUPER CAPTION: Nadia Matar, Settler Activist

The emerging deal would constitute the first progress since Netanyahu came to power in May's elections.

It would also help calm Arab-Israeli tension which was greatly heightened by doubts Netanyahu was committed to the peace process.

Netanyahu was also sharply criticised by hard-liners in his cabinet, and at least seven ministers in his 18-member cabinet are expected to vote against the accord.

Cabinet approval is not legally required, but it would be difficult for Netanyahu to proceed without the support of a majority of his ministers.

The Commerce Minister said he believes Netanyahu would not risk signing an agreement his cabinet would not support.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

\"I don't think that the P-M can afford to sign an agreement which later will not be approved by the government. That's why i believe that he will make his best to sign an agreement which criteria which I mentioned, and then i believe he can get the support of the government\"

SUPER CAPTION: Nathan Sharansky, Israeli Commerce Minister

The U-S brokered talks have been underway since October, when Washington intervened following clashes between Israelis and Palestinians in which 79 people were killed.

The Hebron pullout is far more sensitive than Israeli withdrawals from other West Bank cities because of the presence of 500 Jewish settlers amid its 130-thousand Palestinians.

Jerusalem, Gaza and Hebron, 13 January 1997

Jerusalem:

1. Various exteriors: Laromme hotel

2. US Consul Ed Abington arriving for talks

3. Erekat arriving for talks

4. SOUNDBITE: Saeb Erekat, Chief Palestinian Negotiator

5. Israeli negotiator Hassan Asfour arriving

6. Various: settlers demonstration outside talks

7. SOUNDBITE: Nadia Matar, Settler

Gaza

8. Yasser Arafat arriving at his office.

The Israeli Parliament, Jerusalem

9. Low shot: Israeli parliament - the Knesset

10. SOUNDBITE: Nathan Sharansky, Minister of Commerce

Hebron

11. Various: soldiers on the streets

12. Various: Settlers spokesman Noan Arnon leading a group of Jewish American tourists through the town

English/Nat

Israel and the Palestinians are both saying the other side holds the key to an Israeli troop withdrawal.

The claims came as new stone-throwing clashes broke out in the West Bank.

Security was tight in advance of a Jewish holiday beginning at sundown Sunday, and the Palestinian lands remained sealed off.

U-S Secretary of State Madeleine Albright is due to arrive on Tuesday to lay the groundwork for a possible summit in Washington later this month, and both sides have been busy staking out positions in advance of her visit.

More clashes in Hebron.

About one-hundred Palestinian youths gathered on Sunday and began throwing stones and bottles at soldiers.

The troops responded with rubber bullets and tear gas, but witnesses said no one was hurt.

It's a common sight in Hebron, home to 450 Jewish settlers and 130-thousand Palestinians.

The fighting broke out at the Halhul checkpoint outside Hebron, where Israeli troops were refusing to let anyone pass.

In Jerusalem, Israeli Cabinet Secretary Danny Naveh and Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat met for talks ahead of the U-S Secretary of State's visit on Tuesday.

They discussed secondary issues, including the so-called safe passage that would permit Palestinian travel between the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and the status of Palestinian prisoners.

Larger issues, like the proposed Israeli troop pullback from the West bank, are still being debated by Netanyahu and the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat.

The two are said to be close to agreeing on a 13 percent troop withdrawal, in return for tougher Palestinian security measures to prevent violence by Islamic militants - a point made by Naveh after the meeting.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"As we see it, as you know, we are interested in concluding the agreement on those three issues. From our point of view, of course, what is needed is to have Israel security requirements being fulfilled. "

SUPER CAPTION: Danny Naveh, Israeli cabinet secretary

Erekat said it was now up to the Israelis to make Albright's visit a success.

SOUNDBITE:

"And I really hope that Secretary Albright will chose the shortest way to get us and the Israelis into an agreement, she has one yes in her pocket, that is Arafat's yes. And in order to reach an agreement she needs a second yes, and that is the Netanyahu's yes which we still miss. We hope that Secretary Albright will do whatever she can in order to acquire a yes from Mr Netanyahu to the American initiative."

SUPER CAPTION: Saeb Erekat, Palestinian negotiator

But Benjamin Netanyahu earlier said it was up to the Palestinians to show their commitment to containing terrorism.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"First of all the Secretary is a welcome visitor here. We agreed at the Washington summit that she would come here in order to help prepare on the 15th of the month. This summit can be a success if the Palestinians live up to their obligations, and show a commitment to carry out in concrete terms their obligations, as they've undertaken them in the Oslo accords in the Hebron agreement with me."

SUPER CAPTION: Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu

This concern for security was immediately obvious with the recent closure of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Apart from some occasional exceptions, the closure has been in effect since just before the New Year holiday which started on the September 20.

Army radio said it was expected to continue through the week long Jewish festival of Sukkot, which begins at sundown on Sunday.

Palestinians complain bitterly about closures, which prevent tens of thousands of workers from getting to jobs in Israel and cost the Palestinian economy millions (m) in lost wages and commercial trade.

In sealing off the Palestinian lands, Israel cited threats from the Islamic militant group Hamas, which has killed scores of Israelis in suicide bombings since 1994.

Hamas vowed to carry out attacks after Israeli soldiers killed two members of the

group last month.

In Jerusalem, preparations were continuing on the eve of the "Sukkot" holiday.

People were busy shopping for the special "4 symbols"- the fruits that represent the holiday.

Before his news conference, Netanyahu was publicly presented with the four traditional symbols.

Hebron, Bethlehem - West Bank, Jerusalem - 4 October 1998

Hebron

1. Various of Palestinians throwing stones at Israeli soldiers

2. Smoke coming up from hillside

3. Israeli soldiers shooting rubber bullets

4. Palestinians arguing with soldier

5. Palestinians running away

Jerusalem

6. Israeli cabinet secretary Danny Naveh arrives

7. Saeb Erekat arrives with Palestinian delegation

8. Naveh and Erekat shaking hands

9. Various delegates in room, seated around table, shaking hands

10. Wide shot Naveh and Erekat

11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Danny Naveh, Israeli cabinet secretary

12. Cameraman

13. SOUNDBITE: (English) Saeb Erekat, Palestinian negotiator

Jerusalem

14. Wide shot Netanyahu

15. SOUNDBITE: (English) Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister

Bethlehem

16. Various of Israeli soldiers checking papers of Palestinians trying to pass through roadblock

Jerusalem

17. Rabbi chanting at Wailing Wall

18. Various of people at the Wailing Wall.

19. Various of people shopping for "four symbols" the fruits that represent the "Sukkot" holiday

20. Netanyahu receiving four symbols of "Sukkot"

SHOTLIST:

Tel Aviv

1. Wide exterior shot of street of Defence ministry, armed soldier standing by

2. Pan of Israeli minister car entering ministry

3. Mid shot of soldier

4. Various of cars transporting ministers arriving for cabinet meeting

Ramallah, West Bank

5. Exterior shot of Council of Minister building, also office of Palestinian Prime-Minister Ahmed Qureia

6. Wide of European Union representative to the Middle East Martin Schultz arriving for meeting with

7. Various of meeting between Schultz and Qureia

Rafah terminal , Gaza Strip

8. Palestinian police arriving at Rafah terminal

9. Palestinian policemen car convoy waiting at terminal

10. Palestinian policeman gathering passports of policemen

11. Wide of cars packed with equipment

STORYLINE:

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon asked senior cabinet ministers on Thursday to approve the release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, a gradual pullout from five West Bank cities and a joint cease-fire declaration with the Palestinians at a historic Mideast summit next week.

Momentum for a cease-fire announcement and other measures received a major boost Wednesday after Egypt unexpectedly offered to host a summit of regional leaders.

Tuesday's summit at Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik is to be hosted by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, and Jordan's King Abdullah will also attend.

In Thursday's meeting, Sharon asked six senior ministers to approve a series of steps ahead of the summit.

In addition to the prisoner release and a gradual West Bank troop withdrawal, Israel would also agree to stop hunting fugitives, provided they sign a pledge to halt attacks and hand over weapons.

Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz told the ministers the military plans to withdraw gradually from five West Bank towns, starting with Jericho, followed by Bethlehem, Qalqiliya and Tulkarem.

Ramallah, the Palestinians' centre of government, would be last, participants said.

Mofaz emphasised that all the measures are reversible, apparently addressing concerns by hawkish ministers.

Later on Thursday, Sharon aide Dov Weisglass and Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat were to meet to finalise the summit's agenda.

In Ramallah, Palestinian Prime minister Ahmed Qureia met European Union representative to the Middle East Martin Schultz and briefed him on the latest developments between Israel and the Palestinians.

And at the Rafah terminal in the Gaza strip, Palestinian policemen crossed the border to Egypt to take part in training that will allow them to deploy Palestinian forces in Gaza Strip anticipating the Israeli withdrawal from the area by mid 2005.

Palestinians and Israelis both said they expected the summit to produce a truce ending more than four years of violence.

A joint declaration of a cessation of violence is one of the first requirements in the internationally backed Road Map peace plan, which calls for the establishment of a Palestinian state by the end of this year.