Palestinians: No Talks Until Israeli Troops Leave.

By VOA News

Palestinian officials said they will not hold talks of any kind with Israel until it pulls its troops out of recently occupied Palestinian cities. A spokesman for Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat, Nadil Abu Rudeineh, said there will be no meetings or contacts with any Israeli unless the troops immediately leave Ramallah and other areas of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Israel did order a redeployment of troops around Ramallah Thursday. Israeli reports have said the pull-out will be gradual and Israeli forces will continue to blockade the city.

President Bush on Wednesday criticized Israel's wide-scale military operations, saying the recent actions have not been helpful in creating conditions for peace.