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

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

English/Nat

For Israel's beleaguered Prime Minister, the visit of President Clinton to Gaza is make or break time.

Benjamin Netanyahu is walking a political tight rope and one slip over the Palestinian negotiations on peace could see him fall - bringing his whole Government down with him.

Benjamin Netanyahu faces a no-confidence motion in the Israeli Parliament next week.

He can't afford to appear to moderate his tough stance on troop withdrawals or return of land to the Palestinians.

If he does, then the hawks on the Israeli right will bring down his Government.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"There will definitely be no withdrawal this week, as the Foreign Minister, Mr Sharon has said. There's no way that we can be satisfied that the Palestinians are keeping up their commitments by this Friday. So if anything there will be a postponement if the Palestinians do not live up to their commitments there will be an indefinite suspension of Israeli withdrawal."

SUPER CAPTION: David Bar Ilan, Advisor to Benjamin Netanyahu

In one week's time, Netanyahu must resume a political fight in the 120-member Knesset, which came close to voting for new elections a few days before Clinton's visit.

If he adheres to the timetable for the next West Bank withdrawal in the U-S brokered Wye River deal, he will lose key members of the right-wing coalition and risk being thrown out of office.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"The prime minister, the cabinet and President Clinton have to realise this has to be responsible decision for any further deployment of the Israeli army - under the circumstances when they've gone broke on all of the signed agreements since Oslo in 1993. "

SUPER CAPTION: Yehudit Tayar, Settlers spokeswoman

On Monday morning, U-S Secretary of State Madeleine Albright was locked in talks with Israeli Defence Minister Yitzhak Mordechai.

The Israelis want assurances that the Palestinian Authority will stick to its promises to collect illegal weapons from militant groups like Hamas and stopping violent protests in the West Bank.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"But they have to vote in the PNC and then use the Palestinian policeman and then they have to collect the weapons and they have to continue to work with the terror plan and do everything that is necessary against the violence in the streets and in the roads. If all those will be done we are ready to continue with the Wye River agreement.

SUPER CAPTION: Yitzhak Mordechai, Israeli Defence Minister

As Clinton flew out to Gaza every eye in Israel was upon him.

The U-S is trying to play the honest broker - but Israel's internal political situation does not make that an easy task

Jerusalem - December 14 1998

Jerusalem:

1. Pull out from Israeli flag

2. Security

3. Benjamin Netanyahu leaving his home

4. SOUNDBITE: (English) David Bar Ilan, Adviser to Israeli Premier

5. Exterior of Israel Knesset

6. Various Israeli troops and soldiers

7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Yehudit Tayar, Settler Spokeswoman

8. Defence minister Yitzhak Mordechai meeting Secretary of

State Madeleine Albright

9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Yitzhak Mordechai, Israeli Defence Minister

10. Clinton's helicopter taking off from Jerusalem

9. Helicopter in sky