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CNN Saturday Morning News

Diplomatic Efforts in Mideast Show Signs of Progress

Aired March 16, 2002 - 09:14   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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Despite ongoing sporadic violence, diplomatic efforts in the Middle East are, in fact, moving forward. U.S. envoy Anthony Zinni met with chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat today. Tonight he meets again with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

From Jerusalem, CNN's Sheila MacVicar brings us up to date on the talks.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SHEILA MACVICAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: After two days of intense discussions with both Israeli and Palestinian leaders, the U.S. envoy, General Zinni, has professed himself to be extremely positive about what he has found on the ground here in spite of the last two weeks of intense violence, bloodshed, and death.

Israeli forces have pulled back their tanks and troops from at least some of the locations they were in at the heart of Palestinian cities, as they have been asked to do by the U.S. administration. They have not yet completed their withdrawal from all Palestinian cities. They remain particularly in the heart of Bethlehem, and they say they are not yet ready to remove their tanks from there.

What is most important, say Israeli officials, as we go into another Saturday, the last two Saturdays having been marked by huge suicide bombs, what is most important now for Israel is quiet, or at least what passes for relative quiet. Israeli officials say that if there is again another massive attack, that that will have the effect of immediately derailing any efforts made by General Zinni or the U.S. administration to get the parties back on track towards a cease-fire and ultimately towards negotiations.

Israeli officials say that there is a level of violence which can be, in a sense, tolerated, but not another attack, a major attack against civilians.

Sheila MacVicar, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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