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.

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.

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

English/Nat

The Israeli Cabinet met on Sunday morning to decide on further withdrawals from the West Bank.

Despite protests by Jewish settlers, Ehud Barak gave the go-ahead to a handover of 6.1 percent of the West Bank to full Palestinian control, paving the way for the renewal of U-S-brokered peace talks on Tuesday.

The announcement enhances Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's claims that his people will have their own state by the end of the year.

The long wait for Israel's promised West Bank withdrawals looks finally to be over after Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak on Sunday gave the go-ahead to redeployment.

The withdrawal of Israeli troops from six point one per cent of the West Bank and the handing over of land to Palestinian control is part of the Sharem El-Shekh agreement.

The deal was implemented in September last year, beginning with the release of 199 Palestinian prisoners.

The handover was also supposed to take place in September but was delayed because of disagreements over the areas to be transferred.

The Israeli redeployment is expected to take place either on Monday or Tuesday, despite protests from Jewish settlers.

They held demonstrations at major checkpoints near Jerusalem.

The settlers say some of the villages to come under Palestinian control are too close to Jewish settlements.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"You see the houses very very close on the road of the Touneah. The Touneah is supposed to this week go over to "A" area under full Palestinian authority which means we're going to have the guns of Arafat right here in these houses right on the main road very very close to the main road going down to Modain and Tel Aviv."

SUPER CAPTION: Vox pop, Jewish settler

The handover will come just hours before peace talks are due to resume in Washington.

Palestinian and Israeli officials will return to the negotiating table in Washington on Tuesday to try to settle a permanent peace treaty by September.

Among other issues to be discussed will be the plight of five (m) million Palestinians who have become displaced or refugees since Israel was established in 1948.

Speaking at a press conference, Israel's deputy defence minister Ephraim Sneh confirmed the government's decision to withdraw troops.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"The government, half an hour ago, voted and approved the transfer of 6.1 percent from the territory of the West Bank to what we call Zone A, which is full Palestinian authority, responsibility for the security, and administrative authority as well."

SUPER CAPTION: Ephraim Sneh, Israeli Deputy Defence Minister

Sixteen cabinet ministers voted for the decision to withdraw from the West Bank, but the decision wasn't unanimous.

Six voted against it and one abstained in a decision which gives the Palestinians an important step towards declaring itself an independent state.

In the move announced by the Israeli cabinet, five point one percent of the West Bank will be handed over for absolute Palestinian control.

In the remaining one percent, the Palestinians will have administrative control while Israel will still retain responsibility for security in the area.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"The real change here, the substantial change here beyond technicalities and the figures is that all the towns, all the Palestinian towns in the West Bank are transferred to full Palestinian authority. From this week on, 60 percent of the Palestinians in the West Bank will live under full Palestinian authority. This is the real change."

SUPER CAPTION: Ephraim Sneh, Israeli Deputy Defence Minister

The map includes three crowded villages - Ubeidiya, Beituniya and Zatara - which are close to, but not within, Jerusalem.

Proximity to Jerusalem is important to the Palestinians as they hope to establish their capital in the eastern part of the city which is traditionally Arab.

With regards to Jerusalem, Israel insists that the city remain united under exclusive Israeli sovereignty.

Under the new map, Israel would also withdraw from areas near the West Bank towns of Jericho, Jenin, Bethlehem and Hebron.

A statement released by Prime Minister Ehud Barak's office said that the transfer will gain further momentum on Tuesday.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"We have to work together because the enemy is a common one. There are few good reasons why to have peace in this land. One of them is, in conditions of peace, the fight against terrorism is easier and more efficient."

SUPER CAPTION: Ephraim Sneh, Israeli Deputy Defence Minister

Sunday's events demonstrate the Israeli government's need to work together with the Palestinians to push the continuing peace process forward.

And according to a Palestinian source, the map signing ceremony is expected to take place very soon.

Jerusalem and Bitunia checkpoint, West Bank - 19 March 2000 XFA

Jerusalem

1. Helicopter pull back to exterior Prime Minister's office

2. Car entering grounds of Prime Minister's office

2. Ehud Barak entering

3. Two military officers entering

4. Various of Cabinet photo op.

Bitunia junction, near Ramallah, West Bank

5. Various of Jewish settlers demonstrating

6. SOUNDBITE: (English), Vox Pop Jewish settler

7. Various demonstration

Jerusalem

8. Wide of Press Conference

9. Cutaway of press

10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ephraim Sneh, Israeli Deputy Defence Minister

11. Cutaway of press

12. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ephraim Sneh, Israeli Deputy Defence Minister

13. Side view of Press with Ephraim Sneh standing at the map

14. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ephraim Sneh, Israeli Deputy Defence Minister

15. Wide of press conference

English/Nat

Jubilant celebrations erupted in parts of the West Bank on Friday as

Palestinians celebrated further self rule in the occupied territories.

Israel handed over a section of the northern West Bank to the

Palestinian Authority in the first phase of implementation of the Wye

interim peace accord.

Under the accord, agreed in the U-S last month, Israel is to hand 13

percent of the West Bank back to the Palestinians in return for a

security crackdown.

00:01

Israeli soldiers were out early on Friday, securing posts that will mark the new borders between Israeli and Palestinian-controlled areas.

00:09

The official handover had been briefly delayed, as the Palestinians questioned last minute changes in the redeployment map.

00:16

The Israeli troop commander in the West Bank was called in to meet with Chairman Yasser Arafat.

00:21

He emerged from the meeting saying the problem was solved - paving the way for implementation of the first phase of the Wye Accord.

00:29

UPSOUND CAR HORNS

00:31

In villages throughout the West Bank Palestinians celebrated the first step towards greater Palestinian control

00:38

As part of the agreement, 250 Palestinian prisoners were immediately released.

00:43

They were given a rapturous home-coming.

But the prisoner release scheme has also attracted criticism.

Some in the Palestinian Authority have complained that many of those set free are not political prisoners - as agreed by Israel - but petty criminals.

00:59

In addition to the prisoner handover and troop withdrawals, the Palestinians can now open their own airport. The first flight is scheduled for Tuesday.

01:08

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."

SUPER CAPTION: Fayez Zaidan, head of Palestinian civil aviation authority

01:24

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

01:34

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"I cannot trust the Palestinian police to keep my security. I can only trust my army and I can only trust my police."

SUPER CAPTION: Jewish Settler

01:43

While the settlers are deeply unhappy with the handover of land - their Palestinian neighbours living in the West Bank, hungry for self-rule, feel they have waited long enough.

ENDS 01:55

Jenin, Hebron, Ramallah, Kabatia, Ganim Settlement in the West Bank; Gaza; Tel Aviv, Israel; 18+20 Nov 1998

Jenin - 20 Nov

00:00 Cement block lowered for new border post by crane

00:04 Drill going into ground

Jenin - 20 Nov

00:09 Israeli and Palestinian Security officials shaking hands

Hebron - 20 Nov

00:15 Israeli West Bank Troop Commander Maj. Gen. Moshe Yaalon

00:18 Back shot of Yaalon walking into Arafat's office

00:21 Arafat out of office

Jenin - 20 Nov

00:29 Palestinians in cars waving Palestinian flags, waving and honking horns

Gaza - Nov 20 1998

00:38 Convoy of buses driving past camera with prisoners leaning out of windows

Ramallah, West Bank

00:43 Mother greeting released prisoner

Gaza

00:49 PAN down from children to woman dancing

00:53 Men embrace released prisoner

Gaza - 18 Nov

00:59 Wide shot airport building, men working on runway

01:04 Wide shot Palestinian airlines plane

01:06 Close shot plane

Tel Aviv, Israel - 20 Nov

01.08 SOUNDBITE Fayez Zaidan, head of Palestinian civil aviation authority

Ganim Settlement, West Bank - 20 Nov

01:24 Wide shot of gates to settlement

01:27 Pan across empty street to empty playground

01:34 SOUNDBITE: (English) Jewish Settler

Kabatia, West Bank - 20 Nov

01:43 Close up of crowd celebrations

01.46 Close up of Palestinian soldier firing into air

01:48 Palestinian soldier on roof of vehicle, firing into air

01:50 Young boy cycles towards camera with Arafat picture

ENDS 01:55

Arabic/Eng/Nat

Yasser Arafat's Cabinet accused Israel in a meeting Friday of ignoring international resolutions that the Palestinians believe require Israel to transfer all of the West Bank and Gaza Strip to the Palestinians by the end of the peace process.

Israel wants to annex 45 percent of the West Bank as part of a final peace accord between the sides, which would be in violation of U.N. resolutions 242 and 338, Palestinian International Cooperation Minister Nabil Shaath said after the meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

Talks between Israel and the Palestinians have been stalled for a week after Arafat walked out of a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak in anger over

Israel's insistence that the last, or third, withdrawal from the West Bank in the interim phase be postponed.

The suspension of the talks was a result of «Israel's repeated attempts to evade what has been agreed upon,» the Cabinet said in a statement.

Arafat was also furious that Barak has refused to hand over Arab suburbs of disputed Jerusalem as part of the next withdrawal, which was supposed to be carried out last month and give the Palestinians full or partial control over 39

percent of the West Bank.

The Palestinians hope to gain as much territory in the West Bank - and especially around east Jerusalem where they hope to establish the capital of a state - before the final status agreement that will outline the borders of the Palestinian entity.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"We haven't received answers from the Israeli sides concerning the questions we introduced in the trilateral meeting held with the Ambassador of the United States last week. The first question concurring the time ceiling for the further redeployment, and secondly the 6.1 %, whether we are going to do it as by agreement by the two sides, and the third issue whether we are going to continue with the frame work agreement, trying to reach a frame work agreement or do we go directly towards the treaty. Without answering these questions I think its not going to be reasonable to speak of meaningful negotiations."

SUPERCAPTION: Saeb Erekat, Palestinian negotiator

But Israel has insisted that the fate of the suburbs be discussed in the talks on a permanent agreement during which the sides are supposed to resolve their competing claims to Jerusalem.

SOUNDBITE: (Arabic)

"When we go to negotiate with Israel, issues of final status on the bases of UN resolutions 242 we are surpassed to see that Israel is demanding to annex 45% of the West Bank. How can we make progress in these negotiations when neither of the intern part is accurately implemented? Nor the final status talks are getting anywhere? This is the real problem and this is the deep crises we are facing with Israel."

SUPERCAPTION: Nabil Shaat, Minister of planning and cooperation

Israel intends to put off the third withdrawal until the final status agreement, the statement said.

The sides had established a joint committee to discuss how much land would be included in the third withdrawal but have not reached agreement.

Israel at one time said it only wanted to hand over 1 percent of the West Bank during that withdrawal.

Israel has agreed in interim accords to withdraw to «specified military locations» but negotiators have been unable to agree on what the phrase means.

The Palestinians had hoped to receive most of the West Bank in the final

accord.

Negotiations on the last peace agreement began in November but have brought few results and a Feb. 13 deadline for the broad outlines of the accord will pass with nothing yet on paper.

The Palestinians hope to skip over the deadline and concentrate on reaching a final accord by the Sept. 13 deadline the sides have agreed upon.

But Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak's office said last week that Israel still wanted to hold «serious, intensive and speeded-up negotiations» to reach a framework agreement.

No negotiations between the sides are being held at this time, Shaath said.

XFA Ramallah, West Bank - 11 February, 2000

1. Exterior of Palestinian headquarters

2. Saeb Erekat entering building

3. Various of Cabinet meeting

4. Yasser Arafat

5. Set up of Saeb Erekat, Palestinian negotiator

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

7. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Nabil Shaat, Minister of planning and cooperation

8. Shaat leaves

9. Exterior of building

English/Nat

Israeli troops have begun to withdraw from the West Bank .

The pullout follows a breakthrough on Tuesday that ended weeks of deadlock.

Israel and Palestinian negotiators signed an agreement that will pull Israeli troops out of 5 percent of the West Bank before the weekend.

The withdrawal, originally due to take place last November, had been delayed over disagreements on Israeli demands that it determines which areas would be handed over.

Under the compromise reached on Tuesday, the withdrawal will be carried out as originally planned by Israel - but the Israelis have agreed to incorporate Palestinian requests as it sketches in the map for the next Israeli withdrawal, in two weeks time.

At Yosef Army Camp, near Nablus in the West Bank Israeli soldiers lowered the Israel's flag and left the compound on Wednesday.

One soldier's friendly handshakes with waiting Palestinians eager to enter the compound, reflected the fresh mood created by Tuesday's deal.

The breakthrough clears the way for both sides try to meet a February 13 deadline on the creation of a framework for a final peace settlement.

But there are still a number of issues that will not be easy to resolve.

The Palestinians want all of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, as well as east Jerusalem, for their state, while Israel wants to keep all of Jerusalem and nearly half the West Bank.

At the Yosef base the Palestinians quickly raised their flag on the vacant mast.

They hope the Israeli withdrawal will pave the way for a final peace settlement and the declaration of Palestine as an independent state.

In all, the Israeli army was to transfer six bases and camps in the northern and southern West Bank, by Thursday.

The pullbacks were second of three stipulated in a September interim peace agreement.

After the final withdrawal, scheduled for January 20, the Palestinians will have full or partial control over 40 percent of the West Bank.

In Wednesday's redeployment Israel will hand back 2 percent of the West Bank around the town of Ramallah to full Palestinian control.

An additional 3 percent near the towns of Nablus, Jenin and Hebron will go from sole Israeli jurisdiction to shared rule.

XFA Yosef Camp, near Nablus, West Bank - January 5, 2000

1. Israeli troops lower Israeli flag

2. Israeli military vehicles leave compound

3. Cutaway Israeli soldier

4. Military vehicles pull away

5. Israeli soldier shakes hands with Palestinians

6. Israeli soldier leaves

7. Palestinian van enters base, men wave and cheer

8. Palestinians lower flag pole and attach Palestinian flag

9. Car with Palestinian flag drives into base

10. Palestinian flag is hoisted

11. Men applaud

12. Various Palestinian flag on flagpole

Natural Sound

More than 100 Jewish settlers broke through Israeli army barricades Monday and waded across a river into Jordan to protest at increasing Palestinian autonomy on the West Bank.

The protest was the latest in a series of incidents by settlers angry at their government's deal with the PLO signed last week in Washington.

The results of that deal began to be seen on the West Bank as Israeli soldiers began dismantling roadblocks in Hebron.

Israeli settlers use a hacksaw to cut through a chain securing a gate on the border between Israel and Jordan.

Moments later the settlers burst through into the no man's land between the two countries.

Waving Israeli flags and holding placards, the settlers waded across the shallow Jordan River.

Senior Israeli officers later arrived and angrily ordered the settlers to return. The settlers responded with chants of: "We shall not be moved".

After an hour on the Jordanian side, the group crossed back.

Two Jordanian army officers looked on but did not interfere.

The P-L-O already rules the city of Jericho, and settlers are concerned about a pledge from Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin to consider enlarging the Palestinian-ruled enclave.

Most of the demonstrators live in Jordan Valley settlements and claim they would be in danger if more land in the area came under PLO rule.

On Thursday, Israel and the PLO signed an accord at the White House outlining a withdrawal of Israeli troops from much of the West Bank and providing for Palestinian elections.

The agreement did not address the status of the Jordan Valley.

Early signs of withdrawal came in the West Bank city of Hebron, where Israeli soldiers began removing army checkpoints.

Israel plans to begin pulling out of some West Bank towns and villages as early as next week.

Despite the removal of checkpoints, Hebron is likely to be the last West Bank city Israeli soldiers will leave because of the presence of 450 Jewish families living in the city centre.

According to the Israeli-Palestinian agreement signed last week, Israel will need another six months to pull out of Hebron unlike six other West Bank cities which will be evacuated sooner.

Patzael, Jordan Valley and Hebron, West Bank, October 2, 1995.

1. Settlers sawing through padlock at gate

2. Gates open

3. Settlers rush through

4. Various settlers wading through thick undergrowth

5. Various settlers cross river

6. Various settlers cheering and waving flags on other bank

7. Banner: "Jordan farm settlers thrown to dogs"

8. Various settlers crossing river

9. Policemen looking over cliff above river

10. Various of policemen talking to settlers

11. Various of general view of Hebron street

12. Israeli army crane lifting cement blocks

13. Israeli soldiers watching

14. Israeli flag flying on top of Israeli Defense Force check-post

15. Army equipment on side of road

16. Tow truck removing cement blocks

English/Nat

Jeep-loads of Palestinian police have rolled into new areas of the West Bank, firing A-K-47 rifles into the air to celebrate an overdue Israeli troop withdrawal that fulfils a key obligation of the peace accords.

Israeli army officers near the city of Ramallah shook hands with Palestinian security officers on Tuesday and handed them copies of maps outlining the handover of 6.1 per cent of the West Bank.

Soldiers placed yellow and brown blocks marking the new boundary, with similar ceremonies taking place near the West Bank cities of Hebron and Nablus.

Israeli army officers and Palestinian security officers met here at the Ofer Camp, near the West Bank town of Ramallah, on Tuesday.

Inside, they studied maps outlining the 6.1 per cent of the West Bank to be transferred from Israeli to Palestinian control before shaking hands.

The transfer gives the Palestinians populated swathes of land abutting cities already under Palestinian control, creating the territory Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat needs for future statehood.

In 5.1 per cent of the West Bank being transferred, the Palestinians are already in charge of civilian institutions but are now also being given security control.

One per cent of the West Bank is going from full Israeli control to full Palestinian control.

The Palestinians had demanded suburbs of Jerusalem, claimed by both sides as their capital, for the withdrawal that was originally to have taken place on January 20.

A compromise gives the Palestinians villages near but not adjoining Jerusalem.

In the town of Halhoul, near Hebron, buildings and street lights were being adorned with the Palestinian flags, while soldiers used yellow and brown blocks to mark the new boundary.

Jeep-loads of Palestinian police drove into Beitunia, where residents set off firecrackers, honked car horns and waved to the police.

This latest handover completes a three-part phase in a series of land transfers under interim peace accords between Israel and the Palestinians, which call for one more transfer of territory.

The residents of Beitunia were clearly pleased that the handover had finally taken place.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

\"I am very happy. I hope to see the rest being... the Palestinian authority take over.\"

SUPER CAPTION: VOX POP Palestinian resident of Beitunia

SOUNDBITE: (English)

\"When we get all the (Palestinian) prisoners we will be completely happy and then the Jerusalem the capital of the Palestinian land.\"

SUPER CAPTION: VOX POP Palestinian resident of Beitunia

Palestinians fired A-K-47 rifles into the air to celebrate the overdue Israeli troop withdrawal that fulfils a key obligation of the peace accords.

Israel wanted to incorporate the transfer into arrangements for a final peace treaty, but the Palestinians refused.

The sides reached a compromise in which they committed to reaching a framework for a final peace treaty in May, with the final interim transfer in June.

Negotiators are to resume talks on the framework agreement near Washington later on Tuesday, with the goal of signing the treaty itself in September.

Ramallah, Hebron and Beitunia, West Bank - 21 March 2000

Ofer Camp, near Ramallah

1. Wide shot of gate with guard

2. Close-up of Israeli flag

3. Various Israelis and Palestinians looking at map of revised territory

4. Mid shot Israeli and Palestinian representatives with maps of revised territory

5. Close-up of Israeli and Palestinian representatives shaking hands, pull out

Halhoul, near Hebron

6. Truck in street, with Palestinian flag

7. Man putting Palestinian flags on street lights

8. Pull out from Palestinian flag on top of building

9. Mid shot boys walking past bus stop painted with Palestinian flag

Beitunia, near Ramallah

10. Palestinian police entering Beitunia in truck

11. Pan Palestinian police

12. Various Palestinian and Israeli police touring withdrawal area

13. SOUNDBITE: (English) VOX POP Palestinian man

14. SOUNDBITE: (English) VOX POP Palestinian man

15. Mid shot Palestinian police in truck with Palestinian flag

16. Masked man firing into air

17. Various Palestinian men firing into air

18. Palestinian police in street

19. Men hanging Palestinian flag from building

20. Close-up man firing into air

21. Wide shot Palestinian police in street

22. Palestinian men firing into air

English/Nat

In a new challenge to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, Jewish settlers established a new outpost in the West Bank before dawn on Tuesday.

They are protesting against the planned withdrawal of Israeli troops from the area.

The move has angered the Palestinians and provoked a tough stance from the Israeli government, who have threatened to use legal measures to oust the settlers.

Early on Tuesday Jewish settlers began building a new camp near the West Bank settlement of Nokdim.

A dozen young men from Dor Hahemsheh or the next generation, a radical settlers group that has clashed with traditional settler leaders over compromises on West Bank land, set up four tents and were building two rickety wooden shelters to claim the hilltop.

The youths were protesting a planned West Bank troop withdrawal, which was scheduled to have taken place last week, by building on the border of an area that was included in the withdrawal plan.

Five army jeeps arrived on the scene but did not intervene to stop them from building the settlements.

The move angered Palestinians, who asked the Israeli government to take immediate action.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"The settlers have often taken the law into their own hands, have often acted like a government within a government in Israel. These are becoming a very dangerous people, a very dangerous phenomena. And we urge the Israeli government to choose peace and not to choose to make deals with the settlers and at the same time we demand a full cessation of settlement activities and an immediate evacuation of these people outside the site."

SUPERCAPTION: Saeb Erekat, Chief Palestinian Negotiator

And the response from the Israeli government was swift.

The minister for Jerusalem said the government would take decisive action against any groups that seek to derail the peace process.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"Illegal settlements will be evacuated, and I'm calling on those involved in those illegal steps to stop it, to evacuate this illegal settlement by themselves. Otherwise the state will act."

SUPER CAPTION: Haim Ramon, Minister for Jerusalem affairs

Following talks with leaders of the mainstream YESHA council of settlers, Israeli foreign minister David Levy also urged the protesters to leave the site voluntarily.

The handover of another 5 percent of the West Bank to the Palestinians was postponed from November 15, when the Palestinians demanded control of more populated areas that link-up the territories they already control.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak has pledged not to allow land grabs by militants to dictate the terms of a final peace settlement for the future of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

That settlement is currently being thrashed out by Israeli and Palestinian negotiators.

XFA Yehuda Desert, West Bank, Jericho, & Jerusalem - 23 November 1999

Yehuda Desert, West Bank

1. Wide shot of settler area with trucks

2. Mid shot of settlers building

3. Mid shot settler standing by tent

4. Pan left to house being constructed and other tents

5. Mid shot Israeli police

6. Mid shot Israeli army trucks

7. Wide shot settlers

8. Various of settlers by tents and wooden constructions

9. Wide shot of tent area

10. Wide shot of desert

Jericho

11. Various setup shots of Saeb Erekat

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

13. Exterior of Palestinian Headquarters

Jerusalem

14. Various set up shots of Haim Ramon

15. Cutaway of cameraman

16. SOUNDBITE: (English) Haim Ramon, Israel Minister

17. Exterior of Jerusalem Police Headquarters

English/Nat

Israeli troops have withdrawn from the town of Ramallah in the West Bank under a hail of stones.

The latest pullout gives Yasser Arafat control over 99 percent of the West Bank's Palestinian population and one-third of its land.

It is Israel's last withdrawal from the West Bank before Palestinian general elections on January 20 and leaves only Hebron still under Israeli troop control.

The pull-out began shortly after 1300 GMT when half a dozen Israeli

jeeps drove out of the Israeli police station in the center of town.

Thousands of Palestinians surrounded the station to see off the Israeli occupiers.

There was an air of celebration as the first jeeps pulled out -- but the jubilation turned sour as crowds started to pelt the jeeps with stones and bottles.

The jeeps kept driving -- for now unable to retaliate in an area that is under the control of the Palestinians themselves.

As soon as they were gone, Palestinians climbed triumphantly to the top of the station and hoisted the Palestinian flag.

Ramallah is the last town to be handed over to Palestinian control before the January 20 Palestinian election.

Under the Israeli-Palestinian peace accord, Israeli troops have withdrawn from seven West Bank towns and more than 400 villages over the past month giving the P-L-O control over more than one-third of the West Bank.

The withdrawals have created a new reality in the Delaware-sized territory after 28 years of Israeli occupation.

Only Hebron is still to be handed over.

The eighth West Bank town due to come under Palestinian control is also the most controversial. The town of 200-thousand Palestinians has a tiny -- and highly vulnerable -- Jewish settlement of 450.

Israeli troops will pull out of most Hebron by the end of March but remain in the downtown area to protect the 450 Jewish settlers living there.

For years, Ramallah was a center of resistance to Israeli occupation.

Just 12 miles north of Jerusalem, it may become Yasser Arafat's future seat of government.

For now, Arafat is still working out of Gaza City in the Gaza Strip.

He said Wednesday that he was satisfied with the way the pull-out was progressing.

SOUNDBITE:

The schedule that we are had agreed upon and that we had signed is going in an accurate way.

SUPER CAPTION: Yasser Arafat, chairman of PLO

He has reason to be -- the pull-out from Ramallah happened one day ahead of schedule.

Ramallah, West Bank and Gaza, Gaza Strip, Israel. 27 December 1995

Ramallah, West Bank.

1. Jeeps containing Israeli troops leaving compound

2. Cut away to Palestinians looking out of apartment block

3. Close up of jeep with soldiers inside

4. Various of jeeps with Israeli troops leaving

5. Various of crowds throwing stones at jeeps

6. Wide-shot of soldiers with guns and Palestinian flags on roof of police station

7. Close up of soldiers with guns and Palestinian flags

8. Crowds clapping, pan to police station

9. Mid-shot of Marwan Bargouti, head of Fatah in Ramallah area, speaking through microphone to crowd, zoom to close up

10. Cut away of Palestinians listening to speech at apartment window

11. Wide-shot of crowds

Gaza, Gaza Strip.

12. Yasser Arafat, chairman of PLO walking past guards

13. SOUNDBITE:

14. Pan from Palestinian flag, to Arafat's office in Gaza.

English/Nat

Israel has begun withdrawing its troops from part of the West Bank.

The withdrawal from six point one percent of the West Bank is part of a land-for-security deal that would give Palestinians control over 41 percent of the West Bank.

The land gives the Palestinians areas of land that border cities already under significant Palestinian control.

The withdrawal came just hours after two shootings Monday night in the West Bank killed a Palestinian woman and injured her husband and three Israelis.

Palestinian police drove into a newly transferred town near the West Bank city of Ramallah in open jeeps on Tuesday, firing their rifles in celebration.

Israeli army officers shook hands with Palestinian security officers and handed them five copies of the maps outlining the area being transferred.

Soldiers placed yellow and brown blocks marking the new boundary.

Then, Palestinian and Israeli security officials toured the area in jeeps, inspecting the new boundaries.

Similar ceremonies were to take place later in the day near the West Bank cities of Hebron and Nablus.

Beitunia residents set off firecrackers, honked car horns and waved to the police.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

\"We are currently implementing the first part of the Sharm agreement. This will hand over full control of Beitunia to Palestinian authority.\"

SUPER CAPTION: Colonel Galhirsh, Israeli Army Officer

The latest transfer of land gives the Palestinians populated swaths of land abutting cities already under Palestinian control, creating the territorial continuity Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat needs for future statehood.

It completes a three-part phase in a series of land transfers under interim peace accords, which call for one more transfer of territory.

Israel had wanted to fold that transfer into arrangements for a final peace treaty, but the Palestinians refused.

The sides reached a compromise in which they committed to reaching a framework for a final peace treaty in May, with the final interim transfer in June.

Negotiators are to resume talks over the framework agreement outside Washington later on Tuesday, with the goal of signing the treaty itself in September.

Ramallah, Hebron, West Bank - 21 March 2000

Ofer Camp, near Ramallah

1. Wide-shot of gate with guard

2. Close-up of Israeli flag

3. Israeli soldiers arriving

4. Various of Israeli soldiers and Palestinian security guards with media

5. Various Israelis and Palestinians looking at map of revised territory

6. Mid-shot Israeli and Palestinian representatives with maps of revised territory

7. Close-up of Israeli and Palestinian representatives shake hands

8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Colonel Galhirsh, Israeli Army Officer

9. Shot of representatives leaving the meeting

Halhoul, near Hebron

10. Various of settlement

11. Close-up of man hoisting Palestinian flag

12. Various of Palestinians in settlement

XFA

Voice and effects

VOICED BY: Richard Vaughan

Israeli troops have begun to withdraw from the West Bank.

The pullout follows a breakthrough on Tuesday that ended weeks of deadlock.

Israel and Palestinian negotiators signed an agreement that will pull Israeli troops out of 5 percent of the West Bank before the weekend.

VOICE-OVER:

0.03

The Israeli flag was lowered by troops at the Yosef Camp near Nablus for the last time.

0.08

The withdrawal came after Tuesday's breakthrough by negotiators.

The land should have been handed over last November, but was delayed when Israel demanded the right to decide which areas it would give up.

0.21

A handshake sealed the transfer to shared rule between the Israelis and Palestinians.

0.26

They now share control of an additional 3 percent of the West Bank near the towns of Nablus, Jenin and Hebron.

The Palestinians also won outright control of an additional 2 percent near Ramallah.

0.39

At the Yosef base the Palestinians were eager to raise their flag on the vacant mast.

0.45

They hope the Israeli withdrawal will pave the way for a final peace settlement and the declaration of Palestine as an independent state.

0.53

Both sides must now meet a February 13 deadline for the creation of a framework document for a final settlement.

1.01

In villages across the West Bank, news of the withdrawal has been welcomed.

1.05

Many Palestinians feel they could soon see the end of Israeli control.

1.09

Although the withdrawal was small, they see any move forward as a chance of achieving peace.

1.15

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"Every step for progress between us and Israel, to build peace between the two people is very important."

SUPER CAPTION: Fauzi Al Barguthi, Palestinian

1.27

But there is still a wide gulf between the two sides.

The Palestinians want all of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, as well as east Jerusalem - but Israel wants to keep all of Jerusalem and nearly half the West Bank.

VISION ENDS: 1.40

XFA Yosef Camp, near Nablus, West Bank - January 5, 2000

Yosef Camp

0.22 - 0.30 - Palestinians arriving in van with flag

0.30 - 0.38 - Palestinians with flag

0.38 - 0.41 - Palestinians attaching flag to pole

0.42 - 0.51 - Flag being winched up

0.51 - 0.54 - People applauding

0.54 - 1.00 - Flag flying

Beni Zeid

1.00 - 1.04 - Wide shot of village

1.04 - 1.08 - Village rooftops

1.08 - 1.12 - Children on road

1.12 - 1.16 - Set up shot

1.16 - 1.27 - SOUNDBITE: (English) Fauzi Al Barguthi, Palestinian

1.27 - 1.32 - Wide shot of village

1.32 - 1.37 - Minaret and village

1.37 - 1.40 - Wide shot of village

English/Nat

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SOUNDBITE: (English)

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

biblical patrimony.\"

SUPER CAPTION: David Makovsky, political analyst

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

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

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

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

SOUNDBITE: (English)

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

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

SUPER CAPTION: Michael Kleiner, right wing member of Parliament

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

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

SOUNDBITE: (English)

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

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

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

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

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

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

File - Jerusalem, May 12, 1998

1. Israeli prime minister Netanyahu entering cabinet meeting

File - Jerusalem, May 24, 1998

2. Ministers Sharon and Mordechai entering cabinet meeting

File - Jerusalem, May 12, 1998

3. Israeli cabinet meeting

File - Maale Ephraim settlement, West Bank

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

5. Pan from Sharon to the settlement area

Efrat settlement, West Bank, June 1, 1998

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

7. Settlement

8. Adults and children walking in street at Efrat settlement

Jerusalem, June 1, 1998

9. David Makovsky, political analyst working at computer

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

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

Tel Aviv, Israel, June 1, 1998

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

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

15. Labour opposition leader Ehud Barak

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

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

English/Nat

The Israeli Cabinet met on Sunday morning to decide on the next withdrawal from the West Bank.

Despite protests by Jewish settlers, Ehud Barak gave the go-ahead to a handover of 6.1 percent of the West Bank to full Palestinian control, paving the way for the renewal of U-S-brokered peace talks on Tuesday.

VOICE OVER:

The long wait for Israel's promised West Bank withdrawals looks finally to be over after Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak on Sunday gave the go-ahead to redeployment.

The withdrawal of Israeli troops from six point one per cent of the West Bank and the handing over of land to Palestinian control is part of the Sharem El-Shekh agreement.

The deal was implemented in September last year, beginning with the release of 199 Palestinian prisoners.

The handover was also supposed to take place in September but was delayed because of disagreements over the areas to be transferred.

It will bring 42.9 percent of the West Bank under Palestinian rule.

The Israeli redeployment is expected to take place either Monday or Tuesday despite protests from Jewish settlers.

They held demonstrations at major checkpoints near Jerusalem.

The settlers say some of the villages to come under Palestinian control are too close to Jewish settlements.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"You see the houses very close on the road of the Touneah. The Touneah is supposed to this week go over to "A" area under full Palestinian authority which means we're going to have the guns of Arafat right here in these houses right on the main road very close to the main road going down to Modain and Tel Aviv."

SUPER CAPTION: Vox pop Jewish settler

The handover will come just hours before peace talks are due to resume in Washington.

Palestinian and Israeli officials will return to the negotiating table in Washington on Tuesday to try to settle a permanent peace treaty by September.

Among other issues to be discussed will be the plight five million Palestinians who have become displaced or refugees since Israel was established in 1948.

Jerusalem and Bitunia checkpoint, West Bank - 19 March 2000 XFA

Jerusalem

1. Helicopter pull back to exterior Prime Minister's office

2. Car entering grounds of Prime Minister's office

2. Ehud Barak entering

3. Two military officers entering

4. Various of Cabinet photo op.

Bitunia junction, near Ramallah, West Bank

5. Various of Jewish settlers demonstrating

6. SOUNDBITE: (English), Vox Pop Jewish settler

7. Various demonstration

English/Nat

VOICED BY: Philippa Meagher

Jeep-loads of Palestinian police have rolled into new areas of the West Bank, firing A-K-47 rifles into the air to celebrate an Israeli troop withdrawal that fulfills a key obligation of the peace accords.

Israeli army officers near the city of Ramallah shook hands with Palestinian security officers on Tuesday and handed them copies of maps outlining the handover of 6.1 per cent of the West Bank.

Soldiers placed yellow and brown blocks marking the new boundary, with similar ceremonies taking place near the West Bank cities of Hebron and Nablus.

0003 Palestinian security forces drive toward the town of Salfit, near Nablus, displaying pictures of Yasser Arafat and flying the Palestinian flag.

0010 The town is part of the 6.1 per cent of the West Bank which is now under Palestinian control.

0018 UPSOUND

0022 When the troops arrive in Salfit the welcome is enthusiastic. Some of the towns involved in the pullout had already been put in charge of the civilian institutions. Now they have security control as well. It's a step towards Yasser Arafat's dream - the establishment of a Palestinian state.

UPSOUND

0039 Hebron is also part of the transfer. Locals raised a sign to designate the new Palestinian land - but redeployment there is likely to take place on Wednesday.

0050 The transfer began earlier in the day when Israeli and Palestinian officers at a camp near the West Bank town of Ramallah, studied maps of the land involved in the transfer.

0103 The town of Beituna was part of the deal and residents were pleased.

0110 SOUNDBITE: (English)

"When we get all the (Palestinian) prisoners we will be completely happy and then the Jerusalem, the capital of the Palestinian land."

SUPER CAPTION: Palestinian resident of Beitunia

0121 The handover, which was due to happen in January, gives Palestinians control over 40 percent of the disputed territory.

Ramallah, Hebron, Beitunia and Salfit, West Bank - 21 March 2000

Salfit, near Nablus

0000 Palestinian security force trucks entering town, with flags

0005 Mid shot trucks entering town with pictures of Arafat on front

0010 Palestinian police in trucks cheering, with flags

0018 Palestinian security forces walking through street with flags

0023 Boys playing in band on roadside

0028 Palestinian security forces walking through street

0031 Children holding pictures of Arafat

0035 Girls with pictures of Arafat, chanting

Hebron

0039 Close up drill

0041 Men putting up sign designating Palestinian land

Ofer Camp, near Ramallah

0050 Mid shot Israeli and Palestinian representatives with maps of revised territory

0058 Close-up of Israeli and Palestinian representatives shaking hands, pull out

Beitunia, near Ramallah

0103 Palestinian police entering Beitunia in truck

0110 SOUNDBITE: (English) Palestinian man, resident of Beitunia

0121 Close up of gun firing in air

0125 Wide shot Palestinian police in street

0127 Palestinian men firing into air

XFA

English/Nat

The U-S peace envoy to the Middle East Dennis Ross met the Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erekat in Jericho on the West Bank on Wednesday.

This follows the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat accepting a U-S proposal to withdraw Israeli troops from the West Bank.

But in line with his increasing defiance, the Israeli Prime Minister said such an arrangement would be detrimental to Israel's security.

Ross has an uphill battle to pave the way for a successful meeting next week in London between U-S Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

Meanwhile in Gaza, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was meeting Egyptian Foreign Minister, Amr Moussa where both men called upon the Israelis to take a more flexible approach to U-S proposals for a staged withdrawal of Israeli troops from the West Bank.

U-S Mideast envoy, Dennis Ross set out once again to breach the divide between Israel and the Palestinians on Wednesday meeting the Palestinian's chief negotiator in Jericho.

He emphasised the urgency of rebuilding trust between the two sides prior to their meeting for peace talks with U-S Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in London next week.

There has been speculation in the media that the United States might call off the London talks if Ross fails to narrow the gap between the two sides.

But Ross did his best to sound optimistic.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"May 4th is an important date, because it also reminds us that we have one year left before the end of the interim period. And I think it is essential that we find a way to break through, not only because we've had a stalemate for too long, but also because we've got to begin to restore hope, we've got to begin to restore a sense of possibility. We have to reestablish the kind of communication between the parties that allows them again to know that they can solve problems together."

SUPER CAPTION: Dennis Ross, U-S Mideast Envoy

Meanwhile, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat met the Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa in Gaza on Wednesday.

Moussa was in Gaza to sign economic agreements, but took the opportunity to criticise the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's intransigence.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"It doesn't stand a chance when you discuss it objectively and substantively, that he is ready to stand against the whole world - this is absolute nonsense - This is irresponsibility"

SUPER CAPTION: Amr Moussa, Egyptian Foreign Minister

Netanyahu's has been increasingly defiant in his attitude towards the peace process.

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on Wednesday accepted a U-S proposal to withdraw Israeli troops from the West Bank.

However, in accepting the American proposal Wednesday, Arafat warned that he would not make further concessions on the pullout.

But Netanyahu said it would compromise Israel's security.

Arafat demanded that the Israeli Prime Minister take a more flexible approach.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"He has to remember, I mean Mr. Netanyahu, that he went with Shamir to Madrid on the platform of land for peace, and not the excuses of security which he uses only to stop and not to implement accurately and honestly what had been signed and what had been agreed upon."

SUPER CAPTION: Yasser Arafat, Palestinian leader

Arafat said the Palestinians had accepted Washington's plan - even though the proposed 13 percent withdrawal falls short of the 30 percent of the West Bank they wanted.

Jericho, West Bank/ Gaza, Gaza Strip, 29 April 1998

1. Exterior of Palestinian Ministry of Local government

2. Dennis Ross, U-S Mid East Envoy arriving

3. Saeb Erekat, Palestinian negotiator and Ross shaking hands

4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Dennis Ross, U-S Mid East Envoy

Gaza City, Gaza Strip 29 April 1998

5. Exterior of Yasser Arafat, Palestinian leader's office in Gaza

6. Arafat arrives, enters building

7. Egyptian Foreign Minister, Amr Moussa arrives, enters building

8. Arafat and Moussa at Podium

9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Amr Moussa, Egyptian Foreign Minister,

10. Cutaway Cameraman

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

12. Cutaway Palestinian Flag

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

Israeli troops have begun pulling out of parts of the northern West Bank after nearly two years of U-S prodding and bitter disputes with the Palestinians.

Army trucks pulled out of Dotan base near Jenin and began deploying 130 black-and-yellow concrete road markers at intersections to delineate new boundaries.

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

The cabinet narrowly approved the decision, seven to five with three abstentions, after acrimonious debate.

The pullback will give the Palestinians full or partial control of an additional nine point one percent of the West Bank.

No army bases or Jewish settlements were dismantled in the withdrawal.

As part of the agreement, Israel also pledged to release 750 Palestinian prisoners, with the first 250 to be freed later on Friday.

The withdrawal marks a point of no return for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who, since coming to power in 1996, had zigzagged on the peace process and now faces the loss of support of key allies and possibly early elections.

As a result of the pull-out, the self-rule city of Jenin will now come under full or partial Palestinian control.

Residents cannot wait to celebrate their new status.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

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

SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop, Kabatia resident

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"If you are the Palestinian people, you know exactly what will happen to every person in our village, because Israeli soldiers will get from our village. We wish them to get to another country from out of the village."

SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop, Kabatia resident

It's thought the redeployment will put another 28 towns and villages in the West Bank under complete control of the Palestinian Authority.

Since Israel has no military bases in the areas, the handover is expected to take place unceremoniously.

Jenin/Kabatia, West Bank November 20 1998

Jenin area

1. Israeli truck unloading roadblocks for new border

2. Guard standing by fence

3. Truck with roadblocks

4. Palestinian officer arriving in car to District Coordination Office

5. Palestinian officials

6. Border sign

7. Israeli soldiers at border

8. Border

9. Lookout post

10. Truck driving through border

Kabatia

11. Palestinians in the street

12. Listening to the radio with news on redeployment

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Vox Pop, Kabatia resident

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Vox Pop, Kabatia resident

15. Street

16. Various Palestinians reading newspapers

17. Palestinian riding donkey