TEL AVIV (voa) – Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon says Israel will pull its troops from all West Bank cities except Bethlehem and Ramallah within a week. He made the pledge in U.S. television interviews Monday. He also spoke to President Bush by phone about the promised pullout — which the president called a “positive development.”
This is the first time Mr. Sharon has given a timetable for winding down Israel’s West Bank offensive. Israel launched the operation March 29 after a wave of deadly Palestinian suicide attacks. Mr. Sharon says the campaign is aimed at rooting out Palestinian militants. In the meantime, Israeli tanks and troops have re-entered the Palestinian town of Tulkarem. Israeli military sources say the new operation is aimed at arresting terrorists, not re-occupying the town.
A top Palestinian official, Saeb Erakat, says Mr. Sharon is defying Mr. Bush and world opinion by not withdrawing from the West Bank immediately. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and Mr. Sharon meet later Tuesday. The two are expected to discuss an Israeli idea for a Middle East conference that could restart the peace process.
Israel wants the conference to take place without Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Mr. Arafat has endorsed the conference idea — but Palestinians say Israel must withdraw its forces from Palestinian towns and cities before the meeting can happen.
Secretary Powell has suggested that the conference be held at the foreign minister level. Mr. Powell may meet with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat Wednesday.
Israeli troops have arrested Marwan Barghouti, a close aide to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Mr. Barghouti was on Israel’s wanted list for allegedly masterminding terrorist attacks.
Mr. Sharon says Mr. Barghouti will be imprisoned and put on trial in Israel. A top Palestinian security official has warned Israel not to harm Mr. Barghouti.
Elsewhere, a group of international relief workers, including Palestinian medics, got its first look inside the devastated Palestinian refugee camp at Jenin. Palestinians have accused Israeli forces of carrying out a massacre in the camp, saying hundreds of people, including many civilians, were killed. Israel says the death toll is only in the dozens, and that most of those killed were gunmen.
