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Israel continues surgical attacks on security targets

Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Thursday, April 5, 2001

GAZA — Israel has launched another air attack on Palestinian security installations in the Gaza Strip.

Early Wednesday morning, Israeli ground forces fired mortars at a Force 17 installation in the northern Gaza Strip. Israeli military sources said the attack was in reprisal for a Palestinian mortar attack overnight Wednesday. Palestinians fired four mortar rounds at the Jewish settlement of Netsarim. Nobody was reported injured.

On Tuesday evening, Palestinian sources said Israeli attack helicopters fired missiles at Palestinian Authority command centers in Gaza City, Khan Yunis and Rafah.

They said one target attacked on Tuesday evening was located about 200 meters from the office of PA Chairman Yasser Arafat.

Israeli military sources said the attack was the latest demonstration of a new policy by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon that emphasizes rapid military response to Palestinian attacks.

Palestinian sources said 70 Palestinians were injured in the 30-minute Israeli attack.

At least 10 Israeli missiles were fired, Palestinian sources said. Israeli ground forces also fired anti-tank missiles toward PA police and Force 17, they said. Other targets attacked were installations of the PA coast guard.

The Israeli attack came hours after PA gunners fired mortars at a Jewish settlement in the Gaza Strip. A 15-month-old boy was critically injured.

Israeli military sources said three mortars were fired toward the Jewish settlement of Atzmona on Tuesday afternoon. "Israel cannot tolerate for much longer these types of attacks," a military statement said.

The Israeli air attack was the second in less than a week on Force 17 installations in Gaza. The attack prompted U.S. intervention and Secretary of State Colin Powell has arranged a meeting for Wednesday evening between Israeli and Palestinian security officials to discuss an end to the mini-war. A CIA representative will monitor the session.

Earlier this week, Arafat was cleared of responsibility by a State Department report on the more than six-month-old min-war. The report failed to conclude that Arafat's forces that attacked Israel acted under his orders. In Athens, Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres met with chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat for over two hours. The two agreed that Israel would take steps to ease restrictions on the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Israel Radio reported on Wednesday that Erekat said previous agreements would be implemented but not further details were given.

"Both of us agreed that we have to decrease the provocation," Peres said. "The emotional distance is wider than the territorial distance. The good news is that there will be talks on the security issue."

In Jerusalem, Sharon said that Peres met with Erekat in an effort to decrease the violence. He reiterated that Israel would not negotiate with the Palestinians as long as the violence continued.

Meanwhile, the Israeli daily Ma'ariv reported Wednesday that Sharon dispatched his son, Omri, to meet with Arafat. The prime minister's office refused to confirm or deny the meeting.

Palestinian and Israeli security officials are scheduled to meet later Wednesday in Gaza.

Thursday, April 5, 2001


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