Israel's security cabinet is to meet on Thursday to discuss a gradual IDF withdrawal from Palestinian territories. The session will take place upon the return of Foreign Affairs Minister Shimon Peres from Washington, where he heard President George W. Bush's demand for an end to the Israeli military operation "as quickly as possible."

The large-scale IDF operation throughout the West Bank, which came as a response to last week's assassination of Tourism Minister Rechavam Ze'evi, could end within a day or two, according to media reports. Israel has reportedly turned to the Palestinians, through American and European mediators, calling on Palestinian security forces to guarantee security in the areas evacuated and prevent shooting attacks, similar to recent arrangements in Beit Jala and Abu Sneneh.

Maariv reported that the Palestinians had yet to reply to the Israeli offer, and "they understand we will withdraw from the territories no matter what," according to a senior security source. Yediot Aharonot reported that a decision had already been reached on Monday to remove IDF forces from Bethlehem, due to European Union pressure not to endanger Christian holy sites in the city. These plans were canceled after Prime Minister Ariel Sharon heard of the State Department demand for an immediate Israeli withdrawal, the paper reported.

IDF commanders have reportedly been given orders to speed up military operations before a potential troop withdrawal from Palestinian-controlled territories. Overnight IDF infantry troops and armored forces raided the West Bank village of Beit Rima, northwest of Ramallah. Palestinians report that between 5-10 people were killed and dozens were wounded. Jibril Rajoub, head of Palestinian preventive security, called it a "massacre." Many Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) activists were reportedly arrested in and around the village, described by the IDF Spokesman as home to a large terrorist infrastructure. Sharon, in a speech before the Knesset, called it a "very important operation."

Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Shaul Mofaz determined that the IDF's operations over the last week had been "successful." He told the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Security Committee yesterday that the incursion into Palestinian-controlled territories had three objectives:

1) To capture Ze'evi's killers
2) To prevent terrorists from entering Israel
3) To prevent shooting attacks at Israelis

Israeli officials had previously stated that they would not pull out of the Palestinian towns until Arafat turns over Ze'evi's killers and outlaw and arrest members of terror organizations. Media analysts suggest Israeli leaders now realize that this is an unrealistic objective. Yediot Aharonot reported that American, European and United Nations officials were pressing Israel to accept a deal where it would withdraw from Area A and stop "targeted killings" in return for the arrest of Ze'evi's killers and other "wanted" terrorists by Palestinian security forces.

President calls for speedy Israeli withdrawal
President Bush joined Peres's scheduled meeting with National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice yesterday and afterwards said of the meeting, "I did express our concern about troops in Palestinian territory and I would hope the Israelis would move their troops as quickly as possible."

After the meeting, Peres still insisted that an Israeli withdrawal was contingent on Palestinian moves against Ze'evi's killers. "The minute the Palestinians will take over in their own hands the introduction of law and tranquility and put in jail the main troublemakers we should be more than happy to (redeploy) our army to their previous positions,'' Peres told reporters.

Peres said the president "would like very much the flames to go down, and I told him we shall do whatever we can to reduce them." Peres said Bush told him the Middle East violence was making it more difficult to maintain the U.S.-led anti-terrorism coalition against the Taliban and Osama bin Laden.

Earlier Peres met with Secretary of State Colin Powell. According to Spokesman Richard Boucher, Powell "made quite clear" to Peres that the Israeli force should be withdrawn. "It's clear that its presence there… contributes to an escalation in violence, and it should be withdrawn immediately," Boucher said.

Peres later said that the word "immediate" could be translated into Hebrew in different ways, and that he assumed that the Americans referred to Israel's "immediate intentions" to implement a troop withdrawal, which would begin "soon."

A statement issued by Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer's spokesman yesterday said, "The moment we know there is serious intent on the part of the Palestinian Authority to maintain order and bring about a cessation of the violence, the Israeli army will withdraw immediately." A government source suggested the use of the word "intent" showed a softening of Israel's position, and appeared to pave the way for a withdrawal based on an agreement with the Palestinians, Ha'aretz reported.

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