WAR between the Israeli's and Arafats henchemen in Gaza and Lebanon may be only day's away:
Israeli Missiles Strike Gaza Positions
November 24, 2001 09:36 PM ET
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Reuters Photo
By Shahdi al-Kashif
GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli helicopters fired at least 20 missiles at Palestinian targets in the Gaza Strip early on Sunday, destroying a security position and wounding three people, Palestinian security officials said.
The missile strikes followed a day of rising tension in which an Israeli was killed in a Palestinian mortar attack in Gaza and thousands of Palestinians vowed revenge for an Israeli missile strike that killed a leader of the militant Hamas group.
The violence was likely to complicate a new U.S. mission intended to help end 14 months of regional violence. Former U.S. Marine Corps General Anthony Zinni and Assistant Secretary of State William Burns are due to arrive in the region on Monday.
An Israeli security source said two Israelis were also wounded in Saturday's apparent mortar attack near the Jewish settlement of Kfar Darom.
In the missile attacks, Palestinian officials said that a position belonging to the Palestinian maritime police was destroyed north of Gaza city after helicopters fired three missiles at it.
Three more missiles hit targets in Deir el-Balah in central Gaza, including offices belonging to Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's Fatah faction, the officials said. Twelve missiles were believed to have struck security positions in Khan Younis in south Gaza.
There was no immediate comment from the Israeli army.
A Palestinian security official told Reuters that the Israeli military action constituted a "new Israeli aggression" that was pushing the region "to explode."
RISING TENSION
Tens of thousands of Palestinians attended rallies in the West Bank and Gaza on Saturday, vowing to strike at the heart of Israel to avenge the rocket attack that had killed Hamas military leader Mahmoud Abu Hanoud a day earlier.
Some 50,000 Palestinians marched from the West Bank city of Jenin to nearby Nablus in a funeral for Hanoud, whom Israel accused of involvement in suicide attacks on its citizens.
Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres told Israel Radio that Hanoud had been a "professional terrorist" planning future attacks and that killing him was an act of self defense.
Palestinian Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo accused Israel of trying to scupper the U.S. peace effort. France and the Arab League condemned the missile attack and its timing.
Some 30,000 Palestinians in Gaza City burned Israeli flags and an effigy of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, vowing to "start accumulating Israeli bodies as revenge for Hanoud."
Israel's killing of Hanoud drew condemnation in Paris where a French Foreign Ministry spokesman criticized the "particularly inappropriate and irresponsible act...at a time when parties have been asked to resume dialogue to bring about a cease-fire."
In Cairo, Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa said Israel's killings of Palestinians and other acts of violence constituted "a serious challenge" to the U.S. peace initiative.
The Palestinian leadership called on Palestinians to use their "pain and anger as an element for a comprehensive national steadfastness to sabotage this criminal plan."
The attack on Hanoud brought to at least seven the number of Palestinians who died violently on Friday, one day after five boys were killed in an explosion in the Gaza Strip that Palestinian authorities blamed on an Israeli booby-trap.
Israeli officials said they were investigating the incident and expressed regret for their deaths.
At least 720 Palestinians and 189 Israelis have been killed since an uprising against Israeli occupation erupted in September 2000 shortly after peace talks stalled.
Washington wants calm in the Middle East to bolster Arab support for efforts to capture Islamic militant Osama bin Laden, whom it blames for September's attacks on the United States.
Hamas has killed scores of Israelis in suicide bombings in recent years and has played an important role in the uprising.
The Palestinians accuse Israel of assassinating more than 70 Palestinians since the uprising began last year.
Israel says its policy, widely condemned by its Western allies, is aimed at militants who plan or carry out attacks. Palestinians say it has killed several political activists. |
