Military

DATE=05/30/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=ISRAEL / PALESTINIANS (L)

NUMBER=2-290340

BYLINE=MEREDITH BUEL

DATELINE=JERUSALEM

CONTENT=

VOICE AT:

INTRO: Israeli troops are staging brief raids into Palestinian-ruled areas of the West Bank. As Correspondent Meredith Buel reports from Jerusalem, at least 10-Palestinians were arrested in the latest sweeps.

TEXT: Under cover of darkness, dozens of Israeli armored vehicles rolled into Palestinian areas in the West Bank city of Hebron.

The Israeli army says four Palestinians were arrested before the military withdrew from Hebron. A military spokesman says six Palestinians were detained for interrogation during a raid in a village near the West Bank town of Tulkarm.

The Israeli army has carried out almost daily incursions into Palestinian towns and villages, searching for militants responsible for carrying out suicide bombings and shooting attacks against Israelis.

The Palestinian leadership issued a statement denouncing the Israeli raids, charging the army with "firing on residential areas and making random arrests."

Meanwhile, there is an upsurge in diplomatic efforts to end the crisis.

German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, who is in the Middle East holding talks with top Israeli and Palestinian officials, endorsed the idea of a regional conference to discuss ways to end the Arab-Israeli conflict.

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We think that we should move now forward the proposal of a meeting or a conference during the next months. I think it is an excellent idea and it should be carefully worked out. We should bring this idea forward. The economic recovery is also crucial and security.

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Assistant Secretary of State William Burns is also in the Middle East on a regional tour. He is meeting with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and will hold talks with Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, on Friday.

Mr. Burns says he is in the region to renew a serious political process and support Palestinian efforts to build strong institutions "in preparation for statehood."

Central Intelligence Agency Director George Tenet is due to travel to the region Friday. He is expected to focus on helping the Palestinian Authority reform its security services. (SIGNED)

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