Israel 'ready to pull out' of Bethlehem

Israel was ready to pull its troops out of Bethlehem today if Palestinian gunfire stops, a senior official said.

But Palestinians insist that the withdrawal must be unconditional.

Israel cancelled a planned Saturday pull-out from Bethlehem, a test case for handing back the six West Bank towns the Israelis started taking over the day after Palestinians assassinated an Israel Cabinet minister. Israel said the Palestinians violated an agreement to stop all gunfire.

However, the Palestinians said that according to the deal worked out with US mediation, the Israeli withdrawal was to be unconditional, and then Palestinian police were to move in and take control.

Exasperated US officials refused to take sides.

‘‘We regret what’s happening, and we think both sides should try harder to get their act together,’’ said Paul Patin, spokesman for the US Embassy in Tel Aviv.

The United States has repeatedly insisted that Israel pull its troops out of the six towns and stay out of Palestinian territory.

Israeli officials said the delay was temporary. ‘‘If during the day we see that they enforce the ceasefire and they assume responsibility for the area, and there’s no shooting and no attacks,’’ said Raanan Gissin, spokesman for Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, ‘‘then in all likelihood the forces could leave tonight (Sunday).’’

Meanwhile, Israeli tanks remained in position on the road leading to Manger Square and the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, marking the traditional birthplace of Jesus.

A meeting of security commanders set for today to discuss procedures for Israel’s pullback from the other towns was thrown into doubt because of the delay.

Palestinian Cabinet minister Ziad Abu-Zayyad said an Israeli pullout was a condition for a ceasefire.

‘‘Continuation of the presence of the Israeli army around Palestinian cities and villages and refugee camps is a continuation of the provocation,’’ he told Israel Army Radio.

After coming under stern US pressure, Israel had agreed to leave Bethlehem and nearby Beit Jalla late Saturday.

Israel said it suspended the pullout after Palestinian gunmen fired on Israeli troops near the Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem and at a Bethlehem-Beit Jalla intersection.

Officials also cited Palestinian gunfire Saturday into Gilo, a Jewish neighbourhood built on disputed land on Jerusalem’s outskirts.

Palestinian officials said the delay showed Israel wasn’t serious about peace.

‘‘It was supposed to take place tonight, but as you see it has not been implemented,’’ Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat said late Saturday. ‘‘It’s a part of their policy not to achieve real peace.’’

An official statement from the Palestinians said the delay was ‘‘a very dangerous, a very serious escalation and it reflects that the Israeli government is insisting on escalating the situation and sabotaging all international efforts that have been made to calm the situation.’’

Israeli officials had said Palestinians must enforce a full ceasefire declared September 26 and ensure security for the withdrawals to take place in the towns, which include Jenin, Qalqilya, Ramallah and Tulkarem.

In Tulkarem on Saturday, a member of Arafat’s Fatah movement was killed in an exchange of fire with Israeli tanks, Palestinian doctors and officials said.

Palestinian gunmen had fired after the tanks moved deeper into the town centre, Palestinian officials. The army said its tanks fired after being fired on.

An army statement said the slain Palestinian, Feras Jaber, 24, had taken part in attacks on Israelis, including the killing of two Tel Aviv restaurant owners who were dragged from a Tulkarem restaurant and shot dead in the street on January 23.