Associated Press
JERUSALEM — Palestinians demanded Wednesday that U.S. envoys heading to the Mideast next week force Israel to implement an agreed truce without delay.
Also Wednesday, Israeli forces entered a West Bank village and snatched two suspected militants, a 24-year-old Palestinian policeman and his brother, a 19-year-old university student, Palestinian officials said. The younger brother was once held by Israel on suspicion of belonging to the militant Hamas, the officials said.
The Israeli military said two Palestinians "suspected of hostile terrorist actions" were arrested.
Signaling a new U.S. push to stop Mideast violence before it scuttles efforts to build a broad coalition to fight international terrorism, Secretary of State Colin Powell appointed a retired general, Anthony Zinni, as his Mideast envoy, and said he would stay in the region to work out a truce.
Zinni and Assistant Secretary of State William Burns are expected to arrive in the region at the beginning of next week.
However, Israel is demanding seven days with no violence before implementing a truce.
Powell called Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Wednesday, Sharon’s office said. The White House later announced that Sharon would begin a working visit on Dec. 3.
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