Two further redeployments would take place on Nov. 15 and Jan. 20, they said.

Then they said there would be only tiny further redeployments before final-status talks.

As originally planned, the three "further redeployments" were to take place while the final settlement was being negotiated.

The further redeployments were among the hardest-fought elements in the Hebron agreements signed this month.

These staged withdrawals, known as "further redeployments," are now at the heart of the stalemate.

Israel has repeatedly failed to carry out promises and negotiated agreements - to make further redeployments from occupied territory, for example.

The Israeli side reaffirmed its commitments to further redeployment in phases.

The agreement dealt with further redeployments in the West Bank, security issues and other concerns.

This "further redeployment" was to start in September 1996 and to end in September this year.

He probably had more to be happy about, since he had won a deadline for further redeployments and was about to gain control over Hebron.