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Blanchard

Israel's military increases incursions into Palestinian areas

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Friday, August 24, 2001

RAMALLAH Ñ Israel's military has increased operations in the Palestinian Authority.

Palestinian sources said Israeli commanders have been given the green light to respond quickly to Palestinian attacks and enter PA areas. The result has been a rash of Israeli military operations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

In each of the actions, the sources said, Israeli troops entered the Palestinian areas, destroyed a chosen PA target and withdrew. The sources said that in all of the operations the troops were backed by Israeli tanks and armored personnel carriers.

The latest clash was overnight Friday in Hebron. Palestinian sources said Israeli armored forces entered the Palestinian neighborhood of Abu Sneina, the site of shooting attacks against nearby Jewish areas in the city. The tanks, in the first Israeli military operation in the PA-portion of the city since 1997, were supported by U.S.-built AH-64A helicopters.

The sources said Israeli troops blew up two buildings in the neighborhood used by Palestinian snipers. Twelve Palestinians were injured in the clash with Israeli soldiers in what the sources termed was fierce resistance.

Israeli commanders termed the Hebron operation as limited. "Palestinian fire was sporadic and did not force us to leave the area," Israeli Deputy Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Moshe Yaalon said.

By daybreak, the Israeli forces left Abu Sneina and returned to their bases in Hebron. An Israeli military source said one soldier was lightly wounded in the battle.

Israeli government sources said the United States was informed of the Israeli operation. They said Israeli Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer contacted his American counterpart, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

Another Israeli incursion was reported near the Gaza city of Dir El Balah. An Israeli military force entered the area overnight Friday in search for Palestinian mortars.

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