SHOTLIST:

Night shots:

1. Wide shot line of Israeli APCs driving down street

2. Mid shot arrested Palestinians with Israeli soldier guarding them, APC goes by

3. Mid shot Israeli soldier targeting position

4. Tank on street comes to stop with gun pointing

5. APC and soldiers crouching outside house in Beituniyah suburb, they go in

6. APC pulls up on pavement

7. Various of house with lights on as tanks rev up outside

8. Israeli soldier telling cameraman to stop filming (UPSOUND: (English) Israeli soldier "This is closed area.")

9. Soldiers and APC stationed outside house

Daylight shots:

10. Tank stationed on street

11. 2 APCs pan to soldiers

12. Soldiers between APCs

13. Close up weapon, pull out to soldiers

14. Soldiers tilt to Palestinians at window looking down

15. Mid shot people at window

16. Tank blocking street

17. Closer shot tank

18. Group of soldiers approaching house

19. Soldiers go in through gate and close it

20. Pull out from face of arrested suspect to APC he is held in and soldier standing guard, soldier walks off with guard dog

STORYLINE:

Israeli troops entered the West Bank town of Ramallah early on Monday, but the army denied reports that soldiers had entered Yasser Arafat's compound and completed destruction of buildings hit in an earlier operation.

One Palestinian was killed and two wounded during exchanges of fire, Palestinian doctors said.

The army said two soldiers were also wounded.

The Israeli military said soldiers surrounded Arafat's compound to prevent gunmen from entering but did not enter themselves.

Palestinians officials also said the Israeli forces remained outside the compound.

Arafat was inside the compound and was unharmed, the officials said.

Troops moved into the West Bank town hours after the Palestinian leader named a new, streamlined cabinet and hours before Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was to meet U-S President George W Bush in Washington.

The latest incursion began around 0400 local time (0100 GMT) when tanks, armoured personnel carriers, jeeps and infantry on foot entered the town.

Soldiers moved among houses around the Amari refugee camp, next to Ramallah, and into the suburb of Beituniyah.

Israeli military sources said the purpose of the latest incursion into the West Bank town was to arrest terrorist suspects.

They said the troops would remain in Ramallah for a "limited time" and had arrested about a dozen suspects overnight, witnesses said.

Also, soldiers detained several suspects in night time raids in other parts of the West Bank, the statement said.

Israeli incursions are an almost daily affair.

On Sunday, troops entered the town of Tulkarem.

SHOTLIST:

1. Various flags outside Palestinian Council building

2. Sign outside building

3. Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia arriving

4. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Ahmed Qureia, Palestinian Prime Minister:

"(Any US guarantees to Israel will be) unacceptable and will not deliver a solution. Any guarantees to Israel will affect the final status issues (as approved by Oslo Agreements) based on the fact that these issues should be the subject for discussion and should not be promised (by the United States)."

5. Qureia walking into building

6. Palestinian Cabinet Minister Saeb Erekat arriving for meeting

7. Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath arriving for meeting

8. Interior - cabinet meeting

9. Close up Qureia pull back to mid shot table

10. Close up Qureia

11. Erekat

12. Pan over meeting

13. Wide shot exterior Palestinian President Yasser Arafat''s compound

14. Palestinian flag

15. Arafat meeting representatives of US Christian group

16. Various Arafat talking with group

STORYLINE:

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia convened his weekly cabinet meeting in Ramallah on Monday as Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon prepared for the April 29 vote on the hotly contested plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli disengagement plan is likely to be high on the agenda at the Palestinian cabinet meeting as is Sharon''s upcoming trip to Washington.

Qureia said any US approval for the proposal would be unacceptable.

Sharon set the date for the April poll on Sunday.

The referendum, among 200,000 Likud members, is to be followed within days by votes in the Cabinet and in parliament.

Sharon is taking a gamble since approval is far from assured and if he loses the referendum, there would be growing pressure on him to resign.

The prime minister has come under growing attack from Israeli hardliners who accuse him of rewarding Palestinian militants by proposing to withdraw from Gaza and four West Bank settlements.

Sharon said he plans to evacuate all 21 Israeli settlements in Gaza and four in the West Bank.

Meanwhile Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat met US Christian leaders at his Ramallah headquarters on Monday.

Arafat said he welcomes an Israeli withdrawal, but only as a first step.

Palestinians say the withdrawal plan is an Israeli ruse to trade Gaza for a permanent hold over most of the West Bank.

They say a withdrawal must be coordinated as part of the US-backed "road map" peace plan, which envisions a Palestinian state by next year.

Sharon plans to travel to Washington this month in hope of winning an endorsement for his disengagement proposal from US President George Bush.

SHOTLIST

APTN

1. Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath surrounded by media

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Nabil Shaath, Palestinian Foreign Minister:

"Well, I mean the questions discussed really related to the return to the peace process, the necessary support for our free elections, to have elections for presidential, legislative and local elections. That requires the voting of east Jerusalemites and that requires real security and pulling out of the cities and villages by the Israeli forces."

3. Various of Mahmoud Abbas, interim Palestinian leader, leaving

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Ahmed Qureia, Palestinian Prime Minister:

"And including the peace process, the road map with the disengagement...is this a new bypass to kill the road map? Or where should it be located, in what phase, the disengagement? In phase one? Let's say it's part of phase one. In phase two? Let's say it's part of phase two. Or let's say that it is the end, then everybody can take his position."

POOL

5. Powell walking out

6. Wide of media

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Colin Powell, US Secretary of State:

"I am very pleased to learn from them how seriously they are taking the upcoming election that will be held on the 9th of January. I am pleased with the level of coordination and cooperation that now exists between the Israeli government and Palestinian Authority to make sure that those elections can be held. The Israeli authorities said to me earlier that they will do everything that they can to commit freedom of movement and access for candidates as well as for voters on election day. Both sides seem confident that they will be able to work out a solution for the question of people living in Jerusalem to have their ballots counted as well."

8. Wide of media

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Colin Powell, US Secretary of State:

"The issue of security was discussed in both Jerusalem this morning and here in Jericho. In order for this process to move forward and for us to achieve our goals of a Palestinian state that will be living in peace side by side with Israel we have to make sure that terrorists are not committed to once again stop this process. Both sides understand the need for ending terror and ending the incitement to terror and providing security for people so they can live safely in their homes, where ever those homes may be in this land."

10. Powell leaving

STORYLINE

US Secretary of State Colin Powell met Palestinian officials in the West Bank town of Jericho on Monday.

Among the officials he met were Palestinian interim leader Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia and the interim Palestinian Authority president Rauhi Fattouh.

The Palestinians asked Powell to ensure that Israel withdraw troops from West Bank population centres ahead of the elections on January 9.

They said he did not pass along any specific Israeli commitments regarding the vote.

Israel reoccupied West Bank towns during a 2002 military offensive.

Troops have since withdrawn from some areas, but continue to enforce travel restrictions on Palestinians.

Palestinians say they need freedom of movement for the vote.

Powell arrived in Jericho from talks with Israeli leaders, who assured him that they would do their utmost to allow Palestinian elections to take place, including easing travel restrictions in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

In a sign of improving ties after four years of fighting in the region, Israeli officials also said they were willing to renew talks with the Palestinians on some issues, including security, and to coordinate the aftermath of Israel's planned withdrawal from Gaza and parts of the West Bank in 2005.

Israel had refused to negotiate with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who died on November 11.

Following the talks in Jericho, Powell said that the United States would do what it could to ensure peaceful elections.

He also called on Israel and the Palestinians to renew their commitments in the "road map" peace plan, which was launched in June 2003, but never got off the ground.

The plan requires Israel to freeze settlements in the first phase and asks the Palestinians to dismantle militant groups.

The United States supports the Israeli plans to the Gaza withdrawal, but has said it must be part of the road map.

The peace plan initially envisioned the establishment of a Palestinian state by 2005, but US President George W. Bush said recently that he'd be

pushing for Palestinian statehood in the next four years.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia has urged the United States to stick to the original timetable.

This demand was raised in Monday's meeting.

Powell said that while a Palestinian state should be established as soon as possible, it is up to Israel and the Palestinians to negotiate a peace

deal.

He reassured Palestinian officials that the United States did not consider the Gaza withdrawal as a replacement of the road map.

SHOTLIST

APTN

1. Interim Palestinian Authority president Rauhi Fattouh enters hotel

2. PLO chief and interim Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas (also known as Abu Mazen), enters hotel

3. US Secretary of State Colin Powell enters hotel, shakes hands with Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath, poses for photographers

4. Exterior of hotel

AGENCY POOL

5. Powell and Palestinian leadership seated, Powell and Abbas stand, shake hands

6. Cutaway of aids seated

APTN

7. Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath surrounded by media

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Nabil Shaath, Palestinian Foreign Minister:

"Well, I mean the questions discussed really related to the return to the peace process, the necessary support for our free elections, to have elections for presidential, legislative and local elections. That requires the voting of east Jerusalemites and that requires real security and pulling out of the cities and villages by the Israeli forces."

3. Various of Mahmoud Abbas, interim Palestinian leader, leaving

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Ahmed Qureia, Palestinian Prime Minister:

"And including the peace process, the road map with the disengagement, is this a new bypass to kill the road map? Or where should it be located, in what phase, the disengagement? In phase one? Let's say it's part of phase one. In phase two? Let's say it's part of phase two. Or let's say that it is the end, then everybody can make his position accordingly."

POOL

5. Powell walking to microphone

6. Wide of media

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Colin Powell, US Secretary of State:

"I am very pleased to learn from them how seriously they are taking the upcoming election that will be held on the 9th of January. I am pleased with the level of coordination and cooperation that now exists between the Israeli government and Palestinian Authority to make sure that those elections can be held. The Israeli authorities said to me earlier that they will do everything that they can to commit freedom of movement and access for candidates as well as for voters on election day. Both sides seem confident that they will be able to work out a solution for the question of people living in Jerusalem to have their ballots counted as well."

8. Wide of media

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Colin Powell, US Secretary of State:

"The issue of security was discussed in both Jerusalem this morning and here in Jericho. In order for this process to move forward and for us to achieve our goals of a Palestinian state that will be living in peace side by side with Israel we have to make sure that terrorists are not committed to once again stop this process. Both sides understand the need for ending terror and ending the incitement to terror and providing security for people so they can live safely in their homes, where ever those homes may be in this land."

10. Powell leaves

STORYLINE

US Secretary of State Colin Powell met Palestinian officials in the West Bank town of Jericho on Monday.

Among the officials he met were Palestinian interim leader Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia and the interim Palestinian Authority president Rauhi Fattouh.

The Palestinians asked Powell to ensure that Israel withdraw troops from West Bank population centres ahead of the elections on January 9.

They said he did not pass along any specific Israeli commitments regarding the vote.

Israel reoccupied West Bank towns during a 2002 military offensive.

Troops have since withdrawn from some areas, but continue to enforce travel restrictions on Palestinians.

Palestinians say they need freedom of movement for the vote.

Powell arrived in Jericho from talks with Israeli leaders, who assured him that they would do their utmost to allow Palestinian elections to take place, including easing travel restrictions in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

In a sign of improving ties after four years of fighting in the region, Israeli officials also said they were willing to renew talks with the Palestinians on some issues, including security, and to coordinate the aftermath of Israel's planned withdrawal from Gaza and parts of the West Bank in 2005.

Israel had refused to negotiate with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who died on November 11.

Following the talks in Jericho, Powell said that the United States would do what it could to ensure peaceful elections.

He also called on Israel and the Palestinians to renew their commitments in the "road map" peace plan, which was launched in June 2003, but never got off the ground.

The plan requires Israel to freeze settlements in the first phase and asks the Palestinians to dismantle militant groups.

The United States supports the Israeli plans to the Gaza withdrawal, but has said it must be part of the road map.

The peace plan initially envisioned the establishment of a Palestinian state by 2005, but US President George W. Bush said recently that he'd be

pushing for Palestinian statehood in the next four years.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia has urged the United States to stick to the original timetable.

This demand was raised in Monday's meeting.

Powell said that while a Palestinian state should be established as soon as possible, it is up to Israel and the Palestinians to negotiate a peace

deal.

He reassured Palestinian officials that the United States did not consider the Gaza withdrawal as a replacement of the road map.

SHOTLIST:

1. Exterior of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's compound

2. Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia arriving for meeting

3. Palestinian Ministers arriving

4. Ministers sitting around table

5. Arafat sitting at cabinet meeting

6. Various shots of ministers at meeting

7. Arafat and ministers talking at cabinet meeting

STORYLINE:

The Palestinian cabinet held its weekly meeting in Ramallah on Monday amid growing unease about Israel's position on the West Bank separation barrier.

Israel's rejection of a world court ruling, which declared the barrier illegal, was expected to top the agenda of the meeting chaired by Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.

On Sunday, a Palestinian official said the Palestinians were putting off a drive to reinforce a world court decision against Israel's West Bank barrier with a UN Security Council resolution, because they feared another US veto.

The court declared the barrier illegal and said it should be dismantled, but Israel rejected the ruling, saying it ignored Israel's right to defend itself against suicide bombers.

The court's ruling is not binding.

The next step would be UN action, and the Palestinians would seek a General Assembly endorsement and then a Security Council resolution, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

However, they would delay the Security Council initiative until after the presidential election in the United States in November, he said.

US President George W. Bush's administration has vetoed several Palestinian-backed resolutions in the Security Council and opposed world court intervention in the barrier dispute.

Of the 15 judges who voted on the barrier, only the US representative opposed the condemnation.

SHOTLIST:

1. Wide shot of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's compound

2. Brazilian delegation arriving headed by Jamil Mourad head of the Brazilian-Arab parliamentary league meeting Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat

2. Close up Arafat

3. Arafat holding Brazilian flag

4. End shot of meeting

5. Arafat and Brazilian delegation coming out of meeting

6. Arafat kissing Brazilian flag

7. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Yasser Arafat, Palestinian leader:

"First of all every body must know, it is not the first time that they (Israel) are threatening my life and it will not be last time. They are not only threatening my life but they are also threatening to harm the Christian and Muslim holy sites, and to harm the Palestinian people, look at what we are seeing every day, more martyrs, more destruction, more detainees."

8. Set up shot of Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath

9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Nabil Shaath, Palestinian Foreign Minister:

"The (Israeli) escalation is taking place everywhere, escalation of murder and assassination, escalation in Palestinian villages in the West Bank and Gaza, which include attacks, killings, arrests of Palestinians and the continuation of the building of the wall and the building of settlements. There is Israeli escalation everywhere and the Israeli leaders are competing, who of them comes with more strong ideas for escalation. And I think the letters of assurance given by the United States to Israel has emboldened the Israeli government for further murder, attacks and escalation."

10. Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath

STORYLINE:

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat dismissed concerns for his safety on Tuesday, following the Israel's recent targeted assassinations of high profile Palestinian militants.

Israel killed Hamas founder Sheik Ahmed Yassin last month and Hamas leader, Abdel Aziz Rantisi, on Saturday.

Palestinian officials have said that they are worried the next target for assassination will be Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, whom Israel accused of fomenting terror.

The Israeli Cabinet voted last year to "remove" Arafat.

Speaking in Ramallah, after a meeting with a Brazilian delegation visiting the region, Arafat said it was "not the first time" his life had been threatened.

Meanwhile Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath accused the Israelis of escalating violence in the region.

He went on to criticise US President George Bush's endorsement of Israel's recent disengagement plan.

The plan would see Israel withdraw unilaterally from the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank but keep Jewish settlements on other West Bank land claimed by the Palestinians.

The endorsement last week constituted a historic shift in US policy and Palestinian leaders accused the administration of undercutting the possibility of a negotiated settlement.

Shaath said the US had effectively given Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon a green light for continued aggression against the Palestinians.

SHOTLIST:

1. Yasser Arafat and Guy Verhofstadt enter

2. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Yasser Arafat, Palestinian President

"I'd like once again to reiterate our commitment to the peace process and to its basis, (U-N) Resolutions 242 and 338, and we are absolutely ready to start implementing immediately negotiations of (a) permanent settlement. And we are also willing to start immediately the implementation of the Mitchell recommendations."

3. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Yasser Arafat, Palestinian President

"I'd like really, here, both to say that the meetings in the United Nations lately were very positive and very successful. I'd like to point in particular to the position taken by President Bush in his speech at the United Nations in stating his support for the state of Palestine."

4. Wide of podium

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Guy Verhofstadt, E-U delegation leader

"The European Union want to underline that, after this twelve day period of relative quiet and of relative calm period, there is a need to relaunch the peace process. And there is a good chance to relaunch the peace process. Not only because of the situation of the last twelve days but also because there is now, I think, in the international community, a general agreement on the fact that if you want to find a solution for the conflict in the Middle East, we have to create an independent Palestinian state. And I think there is also a general agreement inside the international community that if we can relaunch the peace process we have directly to go to what should be the final solution of the conflict: the creation of this Palestinian state."

6. Cutaway of Arafat

7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Guy Verhofstadt, E-U delegation leader

"Certainly, we shall have now, also, tomorrow (Sunday) discussions with Israel to see how we can go further and how in a very short period we can start implementation of the (George) Tenet Agreement and of the Mitchell report -because there is also the Tenet Agreement as the first step to the implementation of Mitchell."

8. Arafat and Verhofstadt depart

STORYLINE:

The Belgian prime minister, leading a group of top European Union representatives, told Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on Saturday that there is international support for the creation of a "viable Palestinian state."

Arafat, in turn, pledged to make every effort to "sustain and maintain" a cease-fire with Israel.

The truce was declared in September, but never took hold.

In a sign of easing of tensions, Palestinian officials said they were informed by Israel that troops were preparing to pull out of the West Bank town of Tulkarem by late Saturday.

Tulkarem is one of six Palestinian towns raided by Israeli troops last month, following the assassination of an Israeli Cabinet minister by Palestinian militants.

Since then, troops have withdrawn from four of the towns.

The E-U delegation meeting with Arafat in Ramallah on the West Bank was headed by the Guy Verhofstadt, whose country holds the E-U's rotating presidency.

Others in the group included E-U foreign policy chief Javier Solana and E-U Commission

head Romano Prodi.

Verhofstadt praised the American administration for its renewed involvement in the region.

Speaking at the United Nations last week, U-S President George W. Bush expressed his support for the establishment of a Palestinian state.

The delegation had come from Egypt where they held discussions with Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak earlier on Saturday.

Verhofstadt said that Mubarak and the European Union shared the same views on a quick implementation of recommendations by an international commission headed by former U-S Senator, George Mitchell.

He also referred to the cease-fire package negotiated by C-I-A director George Tenet.

That is supposed to lead into a multi-staged process recommended by Mitchell.

The Mitchell plan calls for a cessation of violence, a cooling-off period, confidence-building measures, including a freeze on construction in Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and finally the resumption of talks on a lasting settlement.

The E-U hopes a speech expected on Monday from U-S Secretary of State, Colin Powell, will point the way to a renewed Middle East peace drive by the Bush administration, which has been criticised for neglecting the region.

The group was to meet Sunday with Israeli leaders.

Israel has in the past balked at European involvement because of a perceived bias against Israel.

SHOTLIST:

Ramallah, West Bank

1. Various of ministers arriving at meeting outside Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas' office

2. Various shots of meeting

3. Close up of Abbas

4. Various of ministers in meeting

5. Set up shot of Nabil Abu Rudeineh, adviser for Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Nabil Abu Rudeineh, Palestinian adviser for Arafat:

"We urge the American administration to put enough pressure on Israelis, to start implementing the roadmap. So far the Israelis are still wasting time, there should be real American pressure on the Israeli government to stop the settlement activities and stop the them building the wall which they are building, the wall which they are calling the security wall which is against any security and political solution. There should be a release of prisoners and there should be free movement for President Arafat."

7. Various wide shots of demonstration calling for release of Palestinian prisoners

8. People marching

9. Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat emerging from his office with Latin Patriarch Michelle Sabah

10. Arafat and Sabah walk towards car surrounded by security

STORYLINE:

Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas was in close consultation with his cabinet Saturday ahead of his meeting on Sunday with Israeli Prime minister Ariel Sharon.

Sharon is expected to demand Abbas take stronger action against Palestinian militant groups while Abbas is expected to stress the importance of releasing Palestinian prisoners.

Israeli officials indicated on Friday that they would consider a limited release of jailed Islamic militants, but refused to comply with a Palestinian call that Israel also free thousands of militants belonging to Hamas and Islamic Jihad - groups which have mounted suicide bombings and shootings that killed hundreds of Israelis.

The dispute over prisoners and Israel's refusal to return more territory until the Palestinian Authority crack down on militants have deadlocked efforts to implement the U.S.-backed "road map" peace plan.

Sunday's planned meeting between Abbas and Sharon in Jerusalem begins a week of diplomatic moves that will include separate meetings for both prime ministers with US president George W. Bush in Washington.

Abbas will meet with US President on July 25, while Sharon's talks will take place July 29.

On Saturday, an advisor to Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat, Nabil Abu Rudeineh reiterated the Palestinian demand for Israel to release prisoners and to allow Arafat his freedom of movement.

Arafat is still under siege in his compound in Ramallah and remains an issue of conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

On Friday in Brussels the EU reaffirmed its determination to keep talking with Arafat despite pressure by Israel and the US to boycott him for his alleged support for terrorist actions.

SHOTLIST:

1. Tilt down exterior of Yasser Arafat's headquarters

2. Camera operators

3. Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) leaving headquarters

4. Various cars leaving compound (Abu Mazen in first car)

5. People in front of headquarters

6. SOUNBDBITE: (English) Nabil Abu Rdeineh, Yasser Arafat's spokesman:

"President Arafat, tonight, headed a very important meeting and the meeting issued a very important statement considering that there should be one authority on the ground and supporting the government in all its procedures, and helping and supporting the government in controlling the arms demonstrations, and a full commitment to the truce which we committed ourselves to it, and asking all the Palestinian factions to abide by the law and to accept these procedures. So far we urge the quartet (of powers backing the peace plan: US, EU, Russia, UN) and American administration to help the Palestinian government and Palestinian leadership to succeed in order to control things on the ground, hoping that the Israeli government will restrain from continuing their aggression against the Palestinian people."

7. Exterior of headquarters

STORYLINE:

Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas held closed door discussions with Yasser Arafat and other top Palestinian leaders on Wednesday night in the West Bank town of Ramallah.

The meeting continued long past midnight, with officials debating a proposed political statement "that can prevent internal Palestinian fighting and at the same time contains the Israeli anger" for Tuesday's suicide bombing, Palestinian Labour Minister Ghassan Al-Khatib said.

Sources inside said there were raised voices as leaders disagreed over how best to respond.

After Abbas left the meeting, Arafat's spokesman said the meeting issued "a very important statement considering that there should be one authority on the ground".

The spokesman urged the US administration and quartet of powers which backed the "road map" peace plan (The US, the EU, Russia and the UN) to help the Palestinian government and leadership succeed in its task.

Abbas had earlier ordered the arrests of suspects directly involved in a joint Hamas and Islamic Jihad suicide bombing that killed 20 people, but said he would not take broader action against militant groups without the backing of Yasser Arafat.

The bus bombing was the deadliest attack since US President George W Bush unveiled the "road map" peace plan in May.

In response, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon approved a series of pinpoint military strikes, some of which could begin immediately. Israeli Defence Force units have already taken up position around Ramallah.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell called Abbas after a Palestinian Cabinet meeting in Gaza City earlier Wednesday and told him he expected "immediate measures to stop the deterioration," said Palestinian Information Nabil Amr.

Until now, Abbas has shied away from confrontation with Hamas and Islamic Jihad, fearing it will a civil war among Palestinians. Instead he has tried to persuade them to halt attacks on Israelis.

His decision on whether to change course could determine the fate of the "road map" plan.

The two groups, along with Arafat's Fatah, had declared a unilateral cease-fire on June 29, but then changed the terms, saying they would avenge killings of Palestinians by Israeli troops.

Israel warned Wednesday it will resume a relentless hunt for terror suspects if Abbas does not take action, and new Israeli sweeps could trigger more Palestinian attacks, reigniting the cycle of violence and reprisal which has characterised most of the last three years.

SHOTLIST:

1. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat translated into English by Saeb Erekat standing next to him:

"I would like to reiterate on the occasion of commemoration of the dangerous terrorist attacks that hit New York and Washington. I would like as I said to reiterate my personal condemnation, the condemnation of the Palestinian leadership and the Palestinian people for these destructive terrorist attacks. And once again I would also like to reiterate our commitment to cooperate in confronting and fighting international terror under the umbrella of the United Nations. On this sad occasion once again I reiterate our deep solidarity with the American people, President George Bush and the American administration"

3. Wide shot of Arafat in press conference

STORYLINE:

Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat condemned the attacks on the United States and reaffirmed his readiness to cooperate in the fight against terror at an impromptu press conference Tuesday.

Arafat called the press conference at his West Bank headquarters in Ramallah, where he issued his own personnel message on the eve of the anniversary of the terror attacks of September 11 in New York and Washington.

As well as condemning the attacks he also pledged his solidarity to the American President George W Bush, the American people and all the families of the 9/11 victims.

SHOTLIST:

Ramallah

1. Wide shot exterior Palestinian Legislative Council or PLC building

2. Close-up PLC sign

3. Various of council meeting in chamber

4. Various of council members voting on resolution

5. Various of council members at meeting

6. Council members applauding

7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Saeb Erekat, Chief Palestinian Negotiator

"The legislative council just approved the amended basic law. We got the two thirds majority today and now the amended law will be forwarded to President Arafat for ratification, then it will be ratified, hopefully, today and then published in the official gazette. Once this is done President Arafat will officially confirm Mr Abbas, Abu Mazen, as the prime minister and ask him to form the new government and the current government as of the verification of this law will be a caretaker government, hoping that Abu Mazen can present his cabinet to the council for confidence in a very expeditious fashion"

8. Council members congratulating themselves outside

9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Saeb Erekat, Chief Palestinian Negotiator

"We had hoped that war would not be an option for our region. We had hoped that disputes and conflicts in the Middle East would have been solved through political and diplomatic means. Now its very obvious that war is imminent and we have been in touch with the international community since this morning on the impact of this war on the Israeli escalation on the Palestinian people."

10. Cutaway to council members talking amongst themselves

STORYLINE:

The Palestinian parliament on Tuesday gave final approval to a bill defining the role of a future prime minister.

The President of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation Yasser Arafat now has to sign the legislation and then formally offer the job to his preferred candidate, Mahmoud Abbas, the "number-two" in the PLO.

Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, is a moderate who has spoken out against the 30-month-old armed uprising against Israel.

By agreeing the legislation in full, the council also rebuffed attempts by Yasser Arafat to dilute the authority of the new post.

His defeat in that dispute signaled a further weakening of his influence - a process that began about a year ago

amid growing dissatisfaction among Palestinians with his leadership.

The power struggle between Arafat and the parliament has been closely watched by international Mideast mediators who have sought to sideline the Palestinian leader.

U.S. President George W. Bush said last week that installing a credible Palestinian prime minister with real powers is a prerequisite for unveiling a U.S.-backed three-year "road map" to Palestinian statehood.

SHOTLIST

Tel Aviv, Israel

1. Wide exterior of coffee shop

2. People sitting in coffee shop watching television as US President George W. Bush arrives in Ramallah

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Voxpop, Tel Aviv resident, No Name Given:

"Personally I enjoy seeing him visiting here, Israel, but politically I don't see the use of such a visit."

4. People outside coffee shop

Sderot, Israel

5. Wide exterior of restaurant

6. People watching television inside restaurant

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Voxpop, Shalom Halevy, Sderot resident:

"While he is visiting his friends the Qassam rockets continue to fall on the town and to make damage and fear and killing."

8. Halevy watching television

Jerusalem

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Mark Regev, Spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister:

"We've just heard the two presidents at the press conference in Ramallah and I want to say clearly Israel shares the belief of President Bush and President Abbas that the current status quo is unacceptable and the whole purpose of this process is to build a new reality that will be better for both Israelis and Palestinians."

10. Regev watching news conference

Gaza City, Gaza Strip

11. Various of people sitting in coffee shop watching television

12. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Voxpop, Gaza resident, No Name Given:

"We tell the whole world, we tell Olmert that these Palestinian rockets are a natural reaction to the crimes committed by the occupation such as massacres and land grabs that happens in the Gaza Strip."

13. Set-up shot of Fawzi Barhoum, Hamas spokesman watching television

14. Close up of television

15. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Fawzi Barhoum, Hamas spokesman:

"President Bush's statement is an empty one. We cannot depend on it and we cannot build the hopes of the Palestinian people on it. It was an empty speech that concentrated on the human lives of the Palestinians, not on the core issues and it concentrated also on pure security matters that concern guarding the Israeli occupiers according to the compliance of the Palestinian Authority that was stressed by Mr Bush in the security section of the road map."

16. End shot Barhoum

Ramallah, West Bank

17. People in coffee shop

18. Bush on television

19. Men smoking

20. SOUNDBITE (English) Voxpop, Ramallah resident, No Name Given:

"I am very angry about this. I hear another news that he wants or he said the Palestinian there to get out the photos of Yasser Arafat from the Muqata, I am very angry to hear this. So I'm saying that he is not welcome here."

21. Man watching television

STORYLINE

Israelis and Palestinians expressed mixed reactions on Thursday to the joint news conference by US President George W. Bush and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Bush predicted in Ramallah on Thursday that a Mideast peace treaty would be completed by the time he leaves office.

He said he was convinced that both Israeli and Palestinian leaders understood the importance of two democratic states living side by side in peace.

Speaking in Jerusalem after the news conference, Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said Israel shared the belief of President Bush and President Abbas.

"The current status quo is unacceptable and the whole purpose of this process is to build a new reality that will be better for both Israelis and Palestinians," Regev said.

However, in Tel Aviv and the often targeted southern Israeli town of Sderot, residents said they saw little to suggest movement on the road to peace.

"While he is visiting his friends, the Qassam rockets continue to fall on the town and to make damage and fear and killing," one Sderot resident said.

Abbas, standing alongside Bush in Ramallah, called on Israel to fulfil its commitments to a Mideast peace plan, and said he hoped this year would be different, a year for the creation of peace.

Even though it's Bush's first trip to the Palestinian West Bank, it generated little excitement among Palestinians, who are largely sceptical of his promises to try to move along Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

The US is perceived in the Palestinian areas as a staunch ally of Israel at the expense of the Palestinians, but Abbas said Bush's visit gave his people "hope".

Bush is on a three-day visit to Israel and the West Bank to show support for renewed Israeli-Palestinian peace talks following seven years of violence.

Bush said he expects both Israelis and Palestinians to honour their obligations under the road map peace plan, and that Israelis should help the Palestinians modernise their security forces.

It calls on Israel to halt settlement activity in the West Bank, while requiring the Palestinians to dismantle militant groups.

Neither side has fully carried out its obligations.

Bush's trip through the Mideast does not include a stop in Gaza, which is controlled by the militant group Hamas.

The split in Palestinian governance, with Hamas controlling the Gaza Strip and Abbas in nominal control of the West Bank, has divided the Palestinian people.

Gaza and the West Bank lie on opposite sides of Israel.

In Gaza on Thursday, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum dismissed earlier comments by Bush that the group had delivered nothing but misery to Palestinians living in Gaza. He characterised Bush's statement in Ramallah as "empty".

"We cannot depend on it and we cannot build the hopes of the Palestinian people on it", Barhoum said, adding that it "concentrated on the human lives of the Palestinians, not on the core issues".

As he arrived at Abbas's residence on Thursday, Bush did not pay respects to the grave of former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

"I am very angry about this," remarked one man in Ramallah, "So I'm saying that he's not welcome here."

SHOTLIST:

Ramallah, West Bank

1. Wide of Arafat's compound

2. Pan from Imam to Arafat at Friday prayers

3. Various of Arafat at Friday prayers

4. Arafat coming out of building which houses mosque

5. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Yasser Arafat, Palestinian leader:

"(This is a message) to the Quartet that is to meet today in New York to know how the Palestinian people are treated, even though they are coming holding their hearts, not weapons or F-16s and F-15s or uranium or bombs or excavating land or demolishing houses or destroying basic utilities as the Israelis do every day, especially against our Christian and Islamic sites. I say to the world that the world should wake up to stop this brutality."

6. Arafat going back into building

Jerusalem

7. Israeli newspaper headline saying: "Prime Minister under siege" with picture of Ariel Sharon

8. Close up headline with Sharon

Ramallah, West Bank

9. Set up shot, Nabil Abu Rdeineh

10. SOUNDBITE: (English), Nabil Abu Rdeineh, Arafat's spokesman:

"We urge the Quartet to stop this Israeli escalation because the Israeli government, by these threats, are ruining the efforts and ruining the road map and wasting the time which will reflect negatively on everybody, even on the interests of the United States of America itself."

11. Abu Rdeineh walking away

(First Run 1100 F-L-A-S-H, 26 September 2003)

Qalandia checkpoint, entrance to Ramallah, West Bank

12. Busloads of people from Bethlehem at checkpoint

13. Various of scuffle between Israeli soldiers and Palestinians

14. Israeli soldiers helping Palestinians get back on bus

STORYLINE:

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon says he is determined to "remove" Yasser Arafat, even at the risk of harming the Palestinian leader, a newspaper reported on Friday.

The fate of Arafat, who is holed up in his headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah, was thrown into question earlier this month, when Israel's security Cabinet called for his removal.

In an interview with the Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot published on Friday, Sharon said Israel is determined to "remove" Arafat one day.

He said the security Cabinet's decision cancelled his personal promise to US President George W. Bush - made several years ago - not to harm the Palestinian leader physically.

Meanwhile, Arafat himself attended Friday prayers in his Ramallah compound.

Speaking to reporters afterwards, Arafat delivered a message to the Madrid Quartet meeting in New York, detailing the suffering of the Palestinian people.

Arafat's spokesman Nabil Abu Rdeineh said Sharon's threats served nobody's interests and would "reflect negatively on everybody, even on the interests of the United States of America itself".

Also on Friday, the Israeli military tightened a Palestinian travel ban in the West Bank and Gaza Strip because of the two-day Jewish New Year's holiday that began Friday evening.

Busloads of Palestinians from Bethlehem scuffled with Israeli security at Qalandia checkpoint on the outskirts of Ramallah.

The Palestinians, from Bethlehem, were on their way to Ramallah to show their support for Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

All Palestinians were banned from entering Israel in an attempt to prevent possible attacks by militants.

Arabic/Nat

XFA

The Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, on Saturday said he hoped U-S Secretary of State Colin Powell's arrival in the Middle East will herald strong American involvement in peace efforts in the tradition of previous U-S administrations.

Powell's whirlwind trip to Israel and the Palestinian areas comes as the sides are locked in the fifth month of bloody fighting and his presence was not expected to bring the sides closer to resuming peace talks.

Palestinian sources said the location of the scheduled meeting between Arafat and Powell on Sunday was changed from Gaza Strip to the West Bank town of Ramallah after Israel warned the Americans that going to Gaza might be too dangerous.

In advance of the meeting, Arafat arrived in Ramallah on Saturday for the first time since the fighting began.

He said he expected the Americans to continue their activist role in shepherding the peace process under the new president.

The Bush administration has signaled however, that they will tone down the intensive U-S role in Mideast peacemaking that was fostered so ardently under Clinton.

In the West Bank town of Al-Khader thousands of mourners took to the street to take part in the funeral of a 21-year-old killed the day before in clashes with Israeli soldiers.

And in nearby Hebron, 500 demonstrators burned U-S and Israeli flags in protest of the Powell visit.

There were also clashes between Palestinian youths and Israeli soldiers.

Also Saturday, at the Israeli military checkpoint outside of the Palestinian town of Bethlehem, some 100 Israeli peace activists protested against Israel's security closure of the Palestinian areas.

The closure, which has been eased occasionally, has been in effect since the outbreak of fighting in late September.

It has crippled the Palestinian economy in part because some 135 thousand labourers, more than one-sixth of the Palestinian labour force, cannot reach their jobs inside Israel.

SOUNDBITE: (Arabic)

"The most important thing is that there is a strong position from the American administration. President George W. Bush told me recently that he will continue along the path of his father and President Bill Clinton. We hope

that Powell's visit will be part of such an American strategy (of involvement)."

SUPER CAPTION: Yasser Arafat, Palestinian Leader

Ramallah, Al-Khader (Near Bethlehem) and Hebron, West Bank and Jerusalem - February 24 2001

Ramallah

1. Various of Yasser Arafat's helicopter landing

2. Arafat walking

3. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Yasser Arafat, Palestinian Leader

Al-Khader

4. Wide shot of funeral procession

5. Various of body of Raed Mahmoud Musa being carried

6. Pan down from people watching from building to procession

7. Young men chanting

8. Wide shot of funeral with banner showing drawing of dead man

Hebron

9. Wide of demonstration against Colin Powell visit

10. Various of Palestinians burning Israeli and American flags

11. Various of Palestinians throwing stones

12. Palestinian throwing petrol bomb

13. Pan from Palestinians to Israeli soldiers running

14. Israeli soldiers

Jerusalem

15. Pan from Bethlehem checkpoint to left-wing demonstrators

16. Various of demonstration

Natural Sound

XFA

The new U-S Secretary of State, Colin Powell, has met Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in the latest stop on a whirlwind tour which will take in six countries in four days.

Earlier, Powell had talks with the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon.

The talks will be an indication as to George W. Bush administration's Middle East policy.

Powell, apparently made no headway with Sharon and, on Saturday night with outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Barak, on persuading Israel to ease its economic curbs on the Palestinians on the West Bank and in Gaza.

Sharon said Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat first must end violence against Israelis.

Arafat and Powell will hold a joint press conference after their talks at 1030 GMT.

Ramallah, West Bank - February 25, 2001

1. Colin Powell's car arrives, he gets out and shakes hands with officials

2. Interior - various photo opportunity with Arafat and Powell

In Time: 10:32:18

SHOTLIST:

Ma'aleh Adumim, West Bank

1. View of barrier from Ma'aleh Adumim

2. General view of Ma'aleh Adumim

3. Shopping centre of Ma'aleh Adumim

4. Various of newspaper headlines about Bush decision

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Voxpop:

"It is good for Israel and good for us."

Q: Is it good for peace?

"I don't know, in time we will see."

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Voxpop:

Let Bush talk. It's all political, I think. I mean the whole state of Israel, the way it is now, it's supposed to stay with the Jews."

8. Exterior building

Gilo, Jerusalem settlement

9. Shaul Gulstine, Yesha Council spokesman

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Shaul Gulstine, Yesha Council spokesman:

"First of all, there's no disengagement plan. Israel disengaged form the Gaza Strip about ten years ago. The only plan there is today is uprooting eight-thousand Jews from their houses, destroying their houses, schools, kindergartens, even uprooting cemeteries. This is the only plan and what are we getting in return? Terror."

Abu-Dis, West Bank

11. Various of Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia talking to European delegation

12. Qureia leaving

Ramallah, West Bank

13. Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's headquarters

14. Arafat in meeting with Belgium parliamentarians

15. Palestinian flag

16. Palestinian Authority police

STORYLINE:

US President George W Bush's endorsement of the idea that Israel may hold on to settlements in the West Bank in any final peace deal with the Palestinians has been supported and condemned in equal measure.

Israel has established some 130 settlements in the West Bank since capturing the territory in 1967.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has proposed withdrawing from the Gaza Strip and uprooting all 21 settlements there, as well as leaving a handful of West Bank settlements.

Meanwhile on Thursday, Israel's attorney general ordered government ministries to freeze the transfer of all funds to settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, fearing the money will be transferred to illegal outposts, the Justice Ministry said.

Israel is required to dismantle dozens of outposts under the internationally backed "road map" peace plan, although it has only removed a handful of them. Early on Thursday, the military evacuated two uninhabited outposts, arresting seven settlers during the operation, the

army said.

The United States and the Palestinians have criticised the outposts as seeds of future settlements.

Last June, Israel's then-attorney general ordered ministries not to allocate funds to the outposts. The Justice Ministry said the new attorney general, Meni Mazuz, sent a reminder of the order in February.

But local settlement councils have apparently continued to divert money to the outposts. The ministry that Mazuz had ordered the freeze after receiving a report on the matter from the state comptroller. The ministry declined to reveal the contents of the report.

The ministry said the freeze would remain in effect until an oversight committee is set up and that transfer of government funds to illegal activities would result in disciplinary action.

The freeze also applies to the Gaza Strip, even though there are no outposts in the territory.

Arabic/Eng/Nat

XFA

The new U-S Secretary of State Colin Powell has said the siege on the Palestinians must end.

Powell also said the United States leadership was looking forward to playing a key role in any future peace negotiations, and would help get the peace process up and running again.

He made the comments at a joint press conference with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat after the two men held talks in Ramallah.

Arafat gave Powell a warm welcome and passed on his best wishes to George W. Bush.

He said he had every confidence the new administration in Washington D.C. would continue President Bill Clinton's work on the Middle East peace process.

But there is little hope of a quick restitution of the peace process, which disintegrated last September after then opposition leader Ariel Sharon visited a mosque at the disputed Temple Mount.

Violence erupted, mostly in the form of clashes between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian stone-throwers.

Since then over four hundred people have died, most of them Palestinians.

And the violence remains unabated.

SOUNDBITE: (Arabic)

"There is no doubt that we look forward to an active US role in peace negotiations and I am confident that the current US President, President Bush will follow up and will continue with the process that started with his father in Madrid and was continued by President Clinton in order to cement the peace process in the Middle East. This is a process that as I mentioned earlier is not only important for the Palestinians, it is important for the Palestinians, the Israelis, the Arabs and the world community."

SUPER CAPTION: Yasser Arafat, Palestinian Leader

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"We discussed how it is necessary for all sides to move away from violence and incitement and how it is necessary to lift the siege as soon as

possible so that economic activity can begin again in the region. The challenge is how to get the process started, who puts the first key in the door and starts to turn the locks."

SUPER CAPTION: Colin Powell, U-S Secretary of State

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"My heart goes out to every family who has lost a child. I want every Palestinian child, every Israeli child to be safe in his or her home, in his or her school. That'll only be brought about if the violence is reduced on both sides, if the cycle is broken, if this upward spiral is turned down again and we begin discussions and get to the peace process that the chairman has spoken about and the United States and President Bush looks forward to playing a leadership role in that peace process when it starts up again."

SUPER CAPTION: Colin Powell, U-S Secretary of State

Ramallah, West Bank - February 25, 2001

1. U-S Secretary of State Colin Powell shaking hands with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat

2. Pan from Powell to Arafat

3. Powell and Arafat enter news briefing

4. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Yasser Arafat, Palestinian Leader

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Colin Powell, U-S Secretary of State

6. Wide of briefing

7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Colin Powell, U-S Secretary of State

8. Powell and Arafat leaving

SHOTLIST:

Karmei Tsur Settlement, West Bank

1. Sign saying Karmei Tsur

2. Wide pan of settlement

3. Entrance to Karmei Tsur

4. Soldiers inside settlement

5. Victim's body being carried to army truck

6. Soldiers patrolling settlement

Jerusalem

7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Arie Mekel, Israeli spokesman:

"We saw again last night that the Palestinians are determined, not only to kill as many Jews and as many Israelis as they possibly can, but also to make every effort to disrupt any possible chance for the resumption of the peace process. This murderous act, killing a man and his pregnant wife while they were sleeping, this again indicates the murderous nature of these terrorists."

Ramallah, West Bank

8. Set up shot of Rdeineh

9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Nabil Abu Rdeineh, Yasser Arafat's senior adviser:

"The Israelis should blame themselves. They failed politically and security wise, they have to understand they should live peacefully with the Palestinian people with its elected leadership otherwise their security and our security will be endangered."

10. Rdeineh walks away

Halhul, West Bank

11. Military jeep at the entrance of Halhul

12. Helicopter in the air

13. Soldiers and jeep

14. Helicopter over town

15. More of jeeps

16 Soldiers checking papers of a Palestinian truck driver

17. Jeeps at checkpoint

18. More of heavy military presence in the town

STORYLINE:

Two Palestinian gunmen fired at mobile homes in a Jewish settlement in the West Bank early on Saturday, killing a pregnant woman and her husband and and wounding four residents - two of them seriously.

One attacker was killed and a second escaped. Israeli troops in armored vehicles entered a nearby Palestinian town, imposing a curfew, as helicopters searched for the gunman.

The violence came as Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon prepared to leave for Washington, where he is to meet with US President George W Bush on Monday.

The attack on Karmei Tsur, a settlement of about 100 families in the southern West Bank, began shortly after two in the morning (2300 GMT), when two gunmen opened fire a cluster of about 15 mobile homes separated from the rest of the settlement by a barbed-wire fence.

The trailers are for newcomers waiting for permanent housing.

In the nearby Palestinian town of Halhul Israeli armoured personnel carriers moved in and troops imposed a curfew.

No group has claimed responsibility but a Palestinian spokesperson said that Israel only had itself to blame for the attack.

In recent months, there has been an increase in attacks on Jewish settlements by Palestinian gunmen.

SHOTLIST:

Bethlehem, West Bank

1. Wide shot, roadblock

2. Various, Israeli soldiers checking car

3. Police jeep driving by

4. Israeli soldier checking car

5. Palestinians waiting in line

6. Various, roadblock with soldiers checking and Palestinians waiting in line

7. Various, roadblock

Ramallah, West Bank

8. Mahmoud Abbas entering news conference

9. SOUNDBITE (Arabic with English translation) Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian Prime Minister

"I must first affirm that the position that was announced in Aqaba is a commitment and is the position of the Palestinian leadership. It was fully coordinated with President Yasser Arafat. For those who are trying to play games, they should stop because it won't lead them anywhere"

10. Cutaway, news conference

11. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic with English translation) Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian Prime Minister

"The Palestinian suffering needs solutions, it does not need violence and recruiting, I fully disagree that the credibility of my government should be connected to the Israel easing measures. Since the start of this government, their have been attempts to escalate the situation and this escalation has been misused so this government can be punished. Such escalation will only harm the Palestinian position."

12. Exterior, Palestinian Media Centre

STORYLINE:

Israel re-imposed a closure on the West Bank for a second day on a row on Monday, banning Palestinians from entering Israel, except for humanitarian reasons.

After Sunday's Palestinian attack at an army post near the Erez crossing between Israeli territory and the Palestinian Gaza Strip - in which four Israeli soldiers were killed - Gaza crossings into Israel were also closed.

Israeli security sources said there have been dozens of warnings of planned terror attacks.

Israel had lifted its last closure just a week ago after a meeting between Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas and the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

Meanwhile in Ramallah, the Palestinian Prime Minister defended himself against accusations by critics at home that he was too conciliatory toward Israel.

In his first news conference since taking office, Abbas said he would keep trying to engage militant groups in dialogue, and would not resort to force to stop their attacks on Israelis.

Abbas said he opposed all violence, including the Palestinian shooting attack on Sunday.

Abbas has drawn sharp criticism from militants and other critics because of his moderate speech at last week's

Mideast summit in the Jordanian resort of Aqaba, which was sponsored by US President George W. Bush and also attended by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

In his speech, Abbas denounced violence against Israelis and called for an end to the "armed intifada."

His critics claimed he gave too much without getting anything in return from Israel.

Palestinians had expected that Israel would quickly ease a travel ban and other restrictions following the summit, but Israel has not done so, partly because of renewed attacks by militants.

SHOTLIST:

Ramallah, West Bank

1. Long shot Yasser Arafat speaking to council members during Palestinian Legislative Council meeting

2. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Yasser Arafat, Palestinian leader:

"I address your esteemed council and I request your approval to add to the political system the creation of the position of prime minister. I present to you Mahmoud Abbas, secretary-general, for the position of prime minister."

3. Cutaway picture on wall

4. Pull out from Arafat to wide shot meeting as they applaud Arafat

5. Various of members voting on proposals, monitors counting hands

6. Ahmed Qureia, speaker of the council, reading out result

7. Press crush around Arafat after meeting as he walks back to his office

8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ahmed Qureia, speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council:

"The decision is for the position of prime minister. The Palestinian Legislative Council agreed to start the process of amendment of the Basic Law to include the position of prime minister in the structure of the Palestinian Authority and what's the responsibility of the prime minister."

Jerusalem

9. Exterior Israeli Foreign Ministry

10. US ambassador Dan Kurtzer and Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, zoom in on Shalom, they sit down and shake hands

11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Dan Kurtzer, US Ambassador to Israel:

"Our view is that a prime minister should be empowered and should be able to move forwards towards peace and away from violence and terrorism, and that's what we hope the PLC does today."

12. SOUNDBITE: (English) Silvan Shalom, Israeli Foreign Minister

"We think that the reforms within the Palestinian Authority are a positive step, but the root question is if Abu Mazen will have the authority that will give him the opportunity to implement what they spoke about before, if he will stop the terror, if he will stop the incitement on the radio and television, the Palestinian radio and television, and in the Palestinian education system. It looks right now like it is only one step. The question is not who is going to be the next prime minister, the root question is if he will get the authority and if he will implement those positive steps that he was talking about before he was nominated."

13. Kurtzer and Shalom shaking hands

STORYLINE:

The Palestinian parliament on Monday approved the new position of prime minister as part of reforms sought by the United States, Europe and Israel to curb Yasser Arafat's near absolute powers.

But it appears the Palestinian leader will retain control over two key issues - security and peace talks with Israel - while the new prime minister will deal largely with internal affairs, including naming and supervising Cabinet ministers.

The power-sharing agreement, worked out last week by Arafat and his appointee for prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, falls short of demands that a new prime minister effectively replace Arafat as the chief peace negotiator.

U.S. President George W. Bush has said the Palestinians have to choose new leaders as a precondition for statehood.

Arafat reluctantly agreed last month to name a prime minister, after balking at the idea - which has become

popular among Palestinians as well - for months.

His critics remain sceptical about Arafat's intentions, saying that while the appointment of a prime minister could be

presented as genuine reform, they expect the Palestinian leader to put up a fight over relinquishing power.

Arafat opened Monday's parliament session with an hour-long speech.

He revisited familiar themes, including accusations that Israel's military strikes against Palestinian militants amount to "state terrorism," and that Israel is sabotaging peace efforts.

He also said he opposes attacks on civilians.

After the speech, legislators approved the creation of the position of prime minister by a vote of 64-3, with four

abstentions.

Later in the day, parliament was to begin debating the authorities of the new job and pass the needed legislation.

Seventy-four of the cabinet ministers participated in the session at Arafat's compound in the West Bank town of Ramallah.

Ten took part via video conference from Gaza City, having been barred by Israel from traveling to the West Bank. Israel has said those ten have been involved in violent activities.

Many Israeli leaders have met Abbas and favour his appointment, noting that he is an outspoken critic of attacks on Israelis.

In Jerusalem, US Ambassador Dan Kurtzer met Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom for talks on Iraq.

Speaking of Abbas's appointment, they both said it was a positive step which would lead to an end to violence, but Shalom had reservations that Abbas would have the necessary authority to implement the positive steps he talked about before he was nominated.