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Israel's military turns up the heat against Palestinians

Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Tuesday, February 27, 2001

TEL AVIV — Israel's military has entered a new stage in its mini-war with the Palestinian Authority.

Israeli military commanders acknowledge that they have adopted a more aggressive policy toward the Palestinians. They said live fire is sanctioned in almost any confrontation with Palestinian attackers.

Retaliation for Palestinian attacks has also become harsher, military sources said. Much of the Gaza Strip has been bulldozed by Israeli tractors.

Compensation is no longer offered to Palestinian farmers for the destruction of their fields or homes.

"We now tell them that if they want anything, they can ask Arafat," a military source said.

Moreover, Israel has divided the Gaza Strip and destroyed several PA police positions. Over the weekend, Palestinians were also prohibited from traveling by car from Gaza City to the southern portion of the strip. Palestinians were told walk along the Gaza beach to reach the south.

An Israeli military spokesman said on Monday that this order has been cancelled. The cancellation came in wake of a meeting on late Sunday between Israeli and PA commanders in Gaza, the first since the Feb. 6 election in Israel.

The PA airport in Rafiah, however, remains closed. The same goes for the Israeli border terminal with Egypt. Exceptions have been made for Palestinian pilgrims heading for Mecca.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell failed in efforts to suspend Palestinian attacks against Israeli targets. During Powell's visit to Ramallah, two Israeli motorists — in separate incidents — were ambushed and wounded near Ramallah, where Powell met Arafat on Sunday.

"There could definitely be a connection [between the attacks and Powell's visit]," Col. Ilan Paz, commander of Israeli forces in the Ramallah area, said.

Israeli military sources said the attacks were launched by Arafat's Force 17 praetorian guard. The sources said Arafat provided the orders for the attacks and timed them until after his meeting with Powell.

In response, Jewish settlement leaders have called for the assassination of Arafat. On late Sunday, Arafat headed a meeting of PA ministers and PLO officials in Ramallah. This was the first Palestinian leadership meeting in Ramallah since the start of the mini-war against Israel in late September.

For his part, Powell said the focus of his talks with Arafat was the end to the mini-war. The secretary was said to have rejected an appeal from Arafat to pressure Israel to end the restrictions on Palestinian movement.

"We discussed how it is necessary for all sides to move away from violence and incitement and to lift the siege as soon as possible," Powell said. "That's still a difficult challenge, but one I think both the prime minister-elect and the chairman are dedicated to find the answer for."

Tuesday, February 27, 2001


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