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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