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CNN Live Today

Vice President Meets With Israeli Leaders

Aired March 18, 2002 - 13:42   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: There is word today that Israeli troops could begin pulling out of some recently reoccupied territories, possibly as early as this evening. Vice President Dick Cheney is there in Jerusalem meeting with the U.S. envoy, Anthony Zinni, and the prime minister, Ariel Sharon. Michael Holmes, also in Jerusalem, filed this story with the latest a few short moments ago. Here's Michael.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Following on from a suicide bombing in Jerusalem and a shooting attack north of Tel Aviv yesterday, two Qassam rockets today fired from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory, landing in an open field. No one hurt. However, a test in a way for the Israeli leadership, how it reacts to this incident as the talks over a ceasefire continue. In the past, Israel has treated Qassam rocket attacks seriously, perhaps even more seriously than other militant attacks.

Meanwhile, some signs of cooperation between the Israelis and Palestinians following on from security meetings today and last night. Word from Israeli security sources that Israel will withdraw its forces from most Palestinian-controlled areas and return security responsibility to those areas to the Palestinians.

A major stumbling block to ceasefire talks between the two sides has been Israel's continued presence in several areas supposedly under Palestinian control. Now, after meetings between security officials from both sides attended by General Zinni, it appears that stumbling block may at least be partially resolved.

We are told that Israel is expected to commence or withdraw from several areas in the next few hours and hand over security control to the Palestinian security forces, obviously insisting that those forces exercise restraint over militant activity against Israelis from within those areas. No ceasefire talks as yet, but we are told by sources not to expect any in the next few days. However, it would appear there has been at least some positive movement.

Of course, U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney in Israel today adding his weight to General Zinni's efforts. He is meeting with Israeli leaders to discuss the wider U.S. war on terror, and so far, no planned meetings between Mr. Cheney and Palestinian leaders as yet, something Palestinian sources feel is something of a diplomatic snub. Everywhere he has gone on his Middle Eastern tour, Mr. Cheney attempting to discuss the war on terror, but he has found Middle Eastern leaders more interested in discussing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While Mr. Cheney would no doubt want to separate the two issues, he has found in his talks with Middle Eastern leaders that they are, in this region, inextricably linked.

Michael Holmes, CNN, Jerusalem.

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