Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Gun Battle at Arafat HQ as Israelis Move In
Reuters | 3/29/02 | Mohammed Assadi

Posted on 03/28/2002 8:37:34 PM PST by kattracks

RAMALLAH, West Bank  (Reuters) - Israeli troops and Palestinians fought a gun battle around Yasser Arafat's  headquarters on Friday after Israel dismissed a cease-fire offer and sent its tanks into Ramallah, Palestinian officials said.

A top aide to the Palestinian president, who was inside, said the army smashed a hole in the wall of Arafat's office building and tore down a fence using armored bulldozers. Another Palestinian official said the building was on fire.

The top aide to Arafat told Reuters by telephone from inside that he feared the Israelis might be about to storm into the building, where Arafat was present with close advisers.

An Israeli military source confirmed the drive deep into the West Bank city was Israel's response after one of the worst suicide bombings of the 18-month-old Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon  , under pressure from right-wing members of his government to topple Arafat, met through the night with the rest of his cabinet.

Israel radio said the government had decided to declare Arafat an enemy and to mobilize army reservists. An announcement was expected after the cabinet meeting ended. "There are gun battles between Israeli troops and President Arafat's bodyguards inside the compound. We hold the Israeli government fully responsible and warn it that it is playing with fire," said Nabil Abu Rdainah, Arafat's top aide.

Several people had been wounded, he said.

Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo said tanks had fired shells at Arafat's office building and that it had caught fire.

"Israeli tanks fired shells at President Arafat's offices and the building is on fire, and we are inside," he said.

PALESTINIAN POLICEMEN WOUNDED Dozens of Israelis tanks had rumbled into fog-bound Ramallah overnight. At least five Palestinian policemen were wounded in initial clashes, Palestinian security sources said.

"It is clear that this operation targets the president personally and the Palestinian leadership as a whole," Abed Rabbo told Reuters by telephone from inside the compound where Arafat had been confined by Israel since December.

Hours earlier, the Palestinian president had offered an immediate cease-fire but it was swiftly dismissed by Israel.

Following Wednesday's suicide bombing, tension had soared, despite the offer of an Arab plan for Middle East  peace that was unanimously endorsed at an Arab summit in Beirut and cautiously welcomed by Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres  .

The Israeli military source confirmed "military activity going on in Ramallah" and said it responded to Palestinian "terror attacks" since Wednesday -- the bombing in a hotel and an attack on a Jewish settlement that killed 24 Israelis in all.

"Right now it is in Ramallah only. If there is a need, it will be broadened," the source added.

Palestinians have been waging an uprising against occupation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip  since September 2000. At least 1,107 Palestinians and 381 Israelis have been killed in tit-for-tat violence since the revolt began.

Israeli forces thrust into Ramallah, 15 km (nine miles) north of Jerusalem, hours after Arafat said he was ready for an immediate truce and Palestinian security sources said arrests of militants linked to bombings had begun, as demanded by Israel. Ramallah is the Palestinians' main political and commercial hub in the West Bank.

CABINET MEETING

The incursion unfolded as the Israeli cabinet met into the early hours to flesh out plans for what Palestinians feared would be a major reprisal. They stocked up on food and other essential supplies beforehand to prepare for siege conditions. Sharon signaled he was in no mood for compromise when he convened the cabinet, saying Israel faced a "new situation, a different situation" after a Palestinian suicide bombing which killed 20 Israelis in the coastal city of Netanya.

Israeli military sources said more combat reserve units had already been called up as a result of recent Palestinian attacks.

Earlier this month, the army reoccupied Ramallah in Sharon's fiercest offensive against cities handed to Palestinian rule under the 1993 Oslo interim peace accords.

Israeli officials swiftly dismissed Arafat's truce offer, saying it would judge him by actions and not words, although Palestinian Authority officials said their security forces had begun arresting militants across the West Bank.

Such arrests would respond to U.S. and Israeli calls for Arafat to do more to curb militants behind attacks on Israelis.

As the cease-fire offer was made, a Palestinian infiltrated a Jewish settlement in the West Bank and shot dead four people.

The gunman was shot dead by soldiers after a stand-off of several hours in a family house, an army spokeswoman said.

In Washington, a senior U.S. official cast doubt on Arafat's truce offer, saying he had not accepted specific cease-fire measures proposed by Zinni and still at issue in negotiations.

"We still don't have agreement to implement the specific steps," added the official, who asked not to be named.

Arafat's cease-fire gambit appeared timed to forestall any Israeli military onslaught.

Copyright © 2002 Reuters Limited.



TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Israel; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: zionist
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-91 next last
To: follow your bliss
I'm out of popcorn, but I'll join you with a couple Heineken...
21 posted on 03/28/2002 8:59:36 PM PST by BCrago66
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Ronin
I think Isreal will at least cut down on Arafat's free cell-phone minutes.
22 posted on 03/28/2002 9:00:40 PM PST by BCrago66
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: kattracks
It is clear that this operation targets the president personally and the Palestinian leadership as a whole,

They meant the Palestinian leadership is a hole.

Fire in the hole

23 posted on 03/28/2002 9:01:14 PM PST by Toddsterpatriot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nocommies
fox is one step away from the all night test pattern, running reruns of this evening's earlier shows. what are they doing???

After 11 PM EST and week ends Fox is useless..junk TV and reruns..Murdock is saving a bundle..I am watching CNN...

24 posted on 03/28/2002 9:01:47 PM PST by RnMomof7
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: lexington minuteman 1775
Thankfully we are spared from Geraldo - he's still in Beirut chasing down Arab royals. We'll no doubt be blessed by his overdramatization on Fox & Friends in the morning.
25 posted on 03/28/2002 9:03:07 PM PST by agrace
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: RnMomof7
MSNBC just went back to Hardball. Now CNN is the only game in town. It's the overnight international desk, but the lady archors almost make it into the babe catagory.
26 posted on 03/28/2002 9:04:41 PM PST by BCrago66
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: *Zion_ist
index bump
27 posted on 03/28/2002 9:04:52 PM PST by Fish out of Water
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: agrace
Rivera was just unbearable on Hannity and Commie tonight...
28 posted on 03/28/2002 9:05:01 PM PST by rintense
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: BCrago66
Yes, cheers!

Go figure...I am out of beer--but have popcorn!

29 posted on 03/28/2002 9:05:36 PM PST by follow your bliss
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: rintense
I missed it .Did he plead for peace again?? If whinning did it Israel would be one peaceful palce
30 posted on 03/28/2002 9:07:20 PM PST by RnMomof7
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

Comment #31 Removed by Moderator

To: RnMomof7
Oh he was all, 'I honestly believe in my heart of hearts that Arafat is sincere and that the Palestinians want peace.' My question is, how many hearts does he have? And does he know that he isn't human????
32 posted on 03/28/2002 9:09:18 PM PST by rintense
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: BCrago66
Oh the inhumanity of it all....
33 posted on 03/28/2002 9:09:21 PM PST by Ronin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: follow your bliss
There's a freakazoid anchoring on CNN now...
34 posted on 03/28/2002 9:09:39 PM PST by BCrago66
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: rintense
Rivera was just unbearable on Hannity and Commie tonight...

Rivera is a vile piece of excrement. Does Ailes just want him to cancel out Banfield? At least she reports news, biased as it definitely is. Rivera's "reports" are merely anti-Israel diatribes, and godawful boring, like most of FOX these days, except O'Reilly.

35 posted on 03/28/2002 9:10:19 PM PST by montag813
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: BCrago66
Israel forces enter Arafat's headquarters


36 posted on 03/28/2002 9:11:19 PM PST by TLBSHOW
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: rintense
I try never to watch him or Greta on principle...I want him to show us proof that the Muslims want peace?? ....In fact I dare him to!
37 posted on 03/28/2002 9:11:27 PM PST by RnMomof7
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: montag813
Wonder where Peter Jennings' girlfriend is now? It would just be too precious if she was with Arafat when he goes down.
38 posted on 03/28/2002 9:12:13 PM PST by JD86
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: kattracks
I hope the Israeli's take that terrorist liar Arafat out for good! If the Pallie's want war give it to them cause they will lose bigtime! Push the moon-god worshippers back into Jordon and let them deal with it!
39 posted on 03/28/2002 9:12:52 PM PST by Walkin Man
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #40 Removed by Moderator


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-91 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson