Israel pulls out of West Bank towns

Israel withdrew from two West bank towns and lifted some Palestinian travel restrictions today.

A US peace envoy is expected to return to the region to restart truce talks.

Anthony Zinni will again attempt to implement a peace deal drafted last year by CIA chief George Tenet and accepted by both sides.

He left the Middle East last month after a surge in violence that included several suicide bombings that killed dozens of Israelis.

The truce deal calls for Israel to stay out of Palestinian-controlled areas and lift travel restrictions on Palestinians.

However, Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon has stuck to his condition that there must be seven days of complete calm before he will begin implementing the Tenet deal.

While acknowledging that there has been a sharp drop in Palestinian attacks, Sharon said conditions for a truce have not yet been met.

Israeli commandos today snatched four suspected Islamic Jihad militants in a raid in the West Bank town of Hebron.

In Kufr Roman village, also in the West Bank, troops backed by tanks also arrested a Hamas activist.

Meanwhile, Israeli tanks withdrew from the West Bank town of Jenin and parts of the West Bank town of Ramallah. However, a tank and an armoured personnel carrier remained close to the office of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

Troops also lifted blockades of the West Bank towns of Qalqiliya, Tulkarem, Jenin and Hebron.

Motorists were stopped and questioned by troops, but permitted to pass.

No restrictions were eased in the Gaza Strip, residents said.

During the past 15 months of fighting, Israel has enforced stringent travel restrictions on Palestinians.

Towns in the West Bank have been under Israeli blockade for much of that time, with residents barred from leaving.

US officials have said they expected Israel to ease the travel restrictions ahead of Zinni’s arrival today.

The envoy will also ask Arafat to step up his crackdown on militants and dismantle groups involved in terror attacks.

Zinni is expected to remain in the region for four days.

Palestinians have accused Sharon of attempting to undermine Zinni’s mission with his insistence on seven days of absolute calm.

‘‘The impossible terms and conditions (Sharon) is setting could sabotage the Zinni mission before it has begun,’’ said Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat.