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

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

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