Israel begins ground war in Gaza
Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Wednesday, April 11, 2001
GAZA — Israel has launched a limited ground war against Palestinian
targets in the Gaza Strip.
For the first time, Israeli troops entered the Gaza city of Khan Yunis
and destroyed Palestinian Authority military positions and nearby homes.
Palestinian sources said about 100 troops, backed by tanks and bulldozers,
were involved in the Israeli operation overnight Wednesday.
Israeli military sources confirmed the operation. They said the aim was
to destroy a PA military post that was shelling the nearby Gush Katif bloc
of settlements.
"What happened last night was clearly a defensive operation," Israeli
Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said.
Palestinian sources reported that two PA officers were killed and
another 20 were injured in the fighting. The sources said this was the first
time Israeli military forces operated openly in territory controlled by the
PA.
The overnight Israeli raid capped a day of tit-for-tat attacks in which
Palestinians fired mortars at Israeli settlements and the Israeli military
responded with anti-tank fire. On Tuesday, the Israeli military destroyed a
PA police station in the northern Gaza village of Bet Khanoun by anti-tank
fire. One Palestinian was killed and another 20 were injured.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was on the outskirts of Gaza during
the attack. "I have a very clear plan," Sharon said. "This will be
implemented and security will return. But we need staying power and
patience."
Israeli military sources said deputy PA security chief Col. Rashid Abu
Shback is responsible for the mortar attacks on Israeli positions.
In Washington, U.S. President George Bush again called for an end to the
mini-war. Bush said the end to violence is required before any resumption of
peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
Palestinian sources said the PA is training thousands of recruits in
five training camps throughout the Gaza Strip. The sources said the training
is meant to stop an Israeli military invasion of the strip.
Wednesday, April 11, 2001
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