Israel's military increases incursions into Palestinian areas
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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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