Date: 4:05 AM 12/4/01 +0100

From: azad

Subject: romigrantsocialforum- notte di guerra in palestina - no

MO: Israeliani entrano in aeroporto Gaza; Secondo fonti palestinesi

GAZA - Forze israeliane sono entrate nell'aeroporto di Gaza. Lo hanno detto fonti della sicurezza palestinesi. /RED

04/12/2001 00:05

MO: ISRAELIANI IN AEROPORTO GAZA; Bulldozer distruggono pista

GAZA - Forze israeliane sono entrate nell'aeroporto di Gaza e i bulldozer dell'esercito hanno cominciato nella notte a distruggere la pista dello scalo internazionale di Gaza, utilizzato dal presidente palestinese Yasser Arafat per i suoi viaggi all'estero. Lo hariferito un dirigente dell'Autorita' nazionale palestinese. /RED

04/12/2001 00:44

ISRAELE AUMENTERA' ATTACCHI ANP; Annuncio dopo riunione governo

GERUSALEMME - Il governo israeliano ha deciso stanotte di intensificare le operazioni militari contro l'Anp e di dichiararla una 'organizzazione che appoggia il terrorismo'.La decisione e' stata presa al termine di una riunione straordinaria del governo durata circa 5 ore.E' stato anche deciso di inseriresulla lista delle 'organizzazioni terroristiche' la Forza 17 (guardia presidenziale Arafat) e le milizie dei Tanzim, legate ad Al Fatah di Arafat. /RED

04/12/2001 02:07

Israel Launches West Bank Incursions

December 03, 2001 06:56 PM ET

<http://www.reuters.com/news_article.jhtml?type=worldnews&StoryID=426184#>Email this article <http://www.reuters.com/news_article.jhtml?type=worldnews&StoryID=426184#> Printer friendly version

RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - The Israeli army thrust into parts of West Bank cities early on Tuesday and troops advanced to within 200 yards of President Yasser Arafat's compound in Ramallah, Palestinian security sources said.

An army spokesman said forces had made "minor" incursions into Ramallah and other West Bank areas but declined further comment.

The moves followed Israeli air strikes on Monday in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in retaliation for a wave of Palestinian suicide bombings.

Palestinian security sources said Israeli troops and tanks had moved into Palestinian-ruled parts of the cities of Ramallah and Nablus and entered a village near Tulkarm.

They said troops had taken up position near Arafat's headquarters, where he was working early on Tuesday.

Israeli tanks move into Gaza airport

Action follows airstrikes in West Bank and Gaza

December 3, 2001 Posted: 9:17 p.m. EST (0217 GMT)

(CNN) -- In the early hours of Tuesday, Israeli tanks moved into the area around Gaza International airport following a day of military strikes in the West Bank and Gaza, Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat said.

Erakat said that Israeli bulldozers were tearing up parts of the runway at the airport, one of the most potent symbols of Palestinian independence.

The Israeli reprisals followed a weekend of bloody violence in which 25 Israelis died in three suicide bomb attacks in Jerusalem and Haifa.

Erakat said tanks also entered the Palestinian town of Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza, the town of Al Bireh in Ramallah and the town of Nablus in the West Bank.

Ten Israeli tanks were positioned near Palestinian Authority President Arafat's Ramallah office while he was inside, Erakat said.

There was no immediate confirmation from the Israeli Defense Forces.

In a televised address to the nation Monday, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Israel faced a "war of terrorism."

"This war will not be an easy war; this war will not be a short war, but we shall win," Sharon said. (<http://www.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/meast/12/03/sharon.transcript/index.html>Full story)

Sharon called a special meeting of the Cabinet later Monday to discuss strategy and decide whether Arafat still can be considered a partner in the peace process, according to a CNN source. (<http://www.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/meast/12/03/hanna.otsc/index.html>Full story)

Erakat called Sharon's statement a declaration of war.

"He is saying, 'War, war, war now, peace later.' I think he is making the mistake of his life," said Erakat, who called on the United States and European leaders to "stop Sharon." (<http://www.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/meast/12/03/strike.reaction/index.html>Full story)

Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres told CNN the Israeli actions were a message to Arafat.

"In many ways, this is more of a warning than a military operation. It is a warning to Arafat, telling him: 'Take the situation into your own hands and respond to the real problems,'" Peres said during an interview with CNN's "Larry King Live."

Peres said Israel has received warnings of future acts of violence and that Arafat needed to take immediate action.

"To outlaw the other three organizations that have arms and bombs and use them. Then to arrest the troublemakers of the Palestinians and arrest them seriously," Peres said.

Palestinian security forces arrested two Hamas leaders and dozens of other members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad Sunday after Arafat declared a state of emergency following the weekend bombings.

Arafat is reportedly seeking an Arab summit over the Israeli strikes. He contacted Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani to seek a summit of the 56-nation Organization of the Islamic Conference.

Israeli F-16 fighter jets Monday night attacked the civil police headquarters and Arafat's offices in the West Bank town of Jenin, Israel Defense Forces said.

Palestinian security sources said the Palestinian police headquarters was destroyed but that there were no injuries because the building was evacuated before the attacks.

The sources also reported an explosion in Bethlehem in the West Bank. The source of the blast was unclear. The Israeli army was checking both reports.

The attack came just after Israeli helicopter gunships struck Arafat's heliport and guard barracks in Gaza City.

At least 15 people were wounded and at least two of Arafat's helicopters were destroyed in Gaza, Palestinian hospital officials said.

Arafat was in the West Bank town of Ramallah at the time of the airstrike.

It remains unclear whether anyone was killed in Monday's attack in Gaza City.

Palestinian Cabinet member Nabil Sha'ath, who said he was close to the scene of the attack, reported the barracks of Arafat's personal guards had been destroyed and that there were "many dead and injured."

Late Saturday, two suicide bombers detonated explosives near the crowded Zion Square shopping complex in Jerusalem, killing 10 Israelis and themselves. The explosions wounded about 180 others.

A third blast rocked the area about 10 minutes later from a car bomb that was timed to explode as rescue workers arrived to tend to casualties, police said.

Most of the victims were young people who came out after sundown to celebrate the end of the Sabbath.

About 12 hours later, around midday Sunday, a powerful bomb ripped through a public bus in the Israeli port city of Haifa, police said, killing 16 people, including a suicide bomber, and injuring about 35 others.

On Sunday, a person speaking Arabic called the Jerusalem bureau of the BBC, identified himself as being from the Islamic Jihad and said the group was behind the Jerusalem bombings.

A Web site claiming to represent the radical Islamic group Hamas said it was responsible for the Jerusalem and Haifa attacks.

Latest developments

• Palestinian sources in Gaza told CNN that Jordan's King Abdullah and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak were to hold a summit meeting Monday in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, in response to the bombings.

• Hassan Abdel Rahman, Palestine Liberation Organization representative to the United States, said the responsibility for controlling terrorists should not rest solely with the Palestinian Authority. "It is unfair to put the blame on Yasser Arafat and the authority alone without looking at what the Israelis are doing to the Palestinians," Abdel Rahman said. "The conditions that are created by Israel make the Palestinian people very angry and very frustrated."

• Retired U.S. Marine Gen. Anthony Zinni, who is in the region to broker a cease-fire between Israelis and Palestinians, said he condemned "in the strongest possible terms the vicious and evil terrorist attacks in Jerusalem."

• The weekend suicide attacks came on the heels of the arrest of more than a dozen members of the Islamic Jihad after the group claimed responsibility for two recent suicide attacks in Israel. Palestinian authorities said many of the arrests occurred in the West Bank, including the arrest of Mohammed al-Hindi, a top operative of the group.

• Israel's attacks on Palestinian targets in Gaza prove that it does not want a final settlement to the Middle East conflict, the Palestinian observer to the United Nations told CNN Monday. Nasser al-Kidwa spoke after the U.N. General Assembly adopted a series of resolutions by an overwhelming majority criticizing Israeli treatment of the Palestinians and its policies on Jerusalem and the Golan Heights. The resolutions were not related to the suicide bombings or to the retaliatory strikes by Israel in Gaza. (<http://www.cnn.com/2001/world/meast/12/03/un.mideast/index.html>Full story)

Palestinian negotiator: Sharon making 'mistake of his life'

December 3, 2001 Posted: 4:04 PM EST (2104 GMT)

(CNN) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is making "the mistake of his life" by pursuing military action in the wake of this weekend's suicide bombings, the Palestinian Authority's chief negotiator said Monday.

"At the end of the day, this means that more Palestinians and Israelis will be killed. There will be no military solutions to our problem," the negotiator, Saeb Erakat, said.

Israel launched airstrikes Monday afternoon on Palestinian Authority leader Yasser Arafat's headquarters in Gaza and in the West Bank town of Jenin. The raids followed weekend suicide bombings that killed 25 Israelis.

Sharon told Israelis on Monday night that "war has been imposed on us, a war of terrorism" and that Arafat was responsible.

But Erakat said Sharon and the Israeli government were wrong to blame and target Arafat, noting the Palestinian leader had condemned the weekend bombings and committed to pursue those who planned them.

"At the same time, Sharon and the Israeli government began bombarding the same police forces and mortars that are supposed to do the job," Erakat said. "They are tying Arafat's hands. They blindfold him and thow him to the sea and ask him to be a good swimmer."

Earlier, Erakat had suggested the airstrikes would breed only more violence.

"If Sharon thinks he can intimidate the Palestinian people by doing this, I am afraid to tell him that the only thing he's doing tonight is just making it more impossible for those of us who want to make peace to move forward," he said.

In Washington, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer declined to comment directly on the airstrikes. Instead, he reiterated the Bush administration's belief that Israel has a right to defend itself and that both sides need to understand the repercussions of their actions.

But a senior administration official involved with the Middle East said Monday that the attacks were a "clear message to Arafat that not only is Israel fed up, we are fed up as well."

"Arafat is not working for the aspirations of the Palestinian people, he is working against them," the official said. "He needs to get his act together."

The official said that the United States is not urging restraint in response to this weekend's suicide bombings in Jerusalem and Haifa but is merely cautioning the Israelis to "avoid civilian causalties and think of the day after."

He added that the administration was not notified in advance of the Israeli attacks but would not condemn the action because Israel "did not strike at facilities Arafat's security forces would use to carry out arrests."

Sharon spokesman Raanan Gissin said the strike was a reminder to Arafat that he must take action against terrorists. Gissin said Monday's action "was intended to send a very clear signal -- either Arafat brings justice to these people and fights terrorism, or we will have to."

Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Gideon Mayer said the strikes should underscore for Arafat that the world has no patience for terrorists or those who harbor them.

"He's not making the real strategic decision which is expected of him -- to join the forces that are fighting terrorism," Mayer said.

Bush administration 'fed up' with Arafat, senior official says

December 3, 2001 Posted: 6:22 PM EST (2322 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A senior Bush administration official involved with the Middle East said Monday that Israeli attacks on Palestinian Authority facilities were a "clear message to Arafat that not only is Israel fed up, we are fed up as well."

"[Palestinian Authority President Yasser] Arafat is not working for the aspirations of the Palestinian people, he is working against them," the official said. "He needs to get his act together."

The official said that the United States is "not urging restraint" in Israel's response to this weekend's suicide bombings in Jerusalem and Haifa that killed 25 Israelis but is merely cautioning the Israelis to "avoid civilian causalities and think of the day after."

The line was echoed Monday afternoon at the White House as press secretary Ari Fleischer deflected reporters' questions on the Middle East by urging Arafat to prove himself as a leader.

"The president believes very strongly that this is a moment for Chairman Arafat to stand strongly and demonstrate that he is with those who seek peace," Fleischer said. "This is a chance for Arafat to demonstrate real leadership."

Fleischer added, "Israel is a sovereign government and has a right to defend herself."

The senior administration official said the Bush White House was not notified in advance of the Israeli attacks Monday in Gaza and Jenin but would not condemn the action because Israel "did not strike at facilities Arafat's security forces would use to carry out arrests."

"These were symbolic locations," this official said. "The point here is to tell Arafat, 'You have a choice. It can either be the PIJ [Palestinian Islamic Jihad]-Hamas way or your way. But you can't have two heads leading the Palestinian people. If you choose the PIJ-Hamas way, this is what you get.' This double leadership cannot continue."

The official said that while Monday's airstrikes by Israel "were not self-defense in the classical sense of going after those responsible, the step was made clearly to tell the Palestinians that there is a heavy price to pay for these policies."

"We are not going to continue to be involved while Arafat has one foot in his camp and one foot in the other camp of PIJ and Hamas," he said. "He needs to wake up and make up his mind how best to achieve the aspirations of the Palestinian people, and he knows it is through arresting those responsible."

Deputy State Department spokesman Philip Reeker called on Arafat to "bring violence and terrorism to an end through immediate, comprehensive and sustained action by the Palestinian Authority against both the individuals responsible and the infrastructure of the groups that support them."

He added, "They need to bring them to justice, but they also need to take action against the infrastructure of those groups that supports those individuals. And there's absolutely no excuse for failure to take immediate and thorough action."

Powell confers with Arafat

Secretary of State Colin Powell spoke with Arafat over the weekend about the need to find and arrest those responsible for the suicide attacks and those who may be planning others. The conversation was described by the senior official as "pretty tough."

The official said that Arafat's statements so far on terrorist acts against Israel were "not forceful enough."

He said that the recent arrests Arafat made over the weekend and the state of emergency he imposed in the Palestinian territories were only the first steps in a huge task the Palestinian leader faces in controlling extremists.

"All right, he unleashed his security boys and made some arrests," the official said. "We don't know if those who needed to be arrested were arrested. Were these 75 or so responsible for the planning and execution of the terrorist attacks? It is too early to assess."

Another senior administration official directly involved in Middle East policymaking said Monday that the Bush administration was watching Arafat's promised crackdown on Palestinian militant groups with a "fair dose of skepticism."

Arafat was "picking up the right people" but there were serious doubts "it will be done on a sustained basis," this official said.

At the same time, the official raised doubts that Arafat could survive in power if he "really did what it takes to root out these people," a reference to members of Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other groups.

"The guessing is that if he truly tries, he is not going to be successful," the senior official said, making clear that others in the administration disagree with his analysis.

Part of keeping some of the most dangerous Islamic militants in check, Fleischer insisted would be Arafat's demonstration he is willing to keep them incarcerated.

"Palestinian jails have bars in the front but should no longer have revolving doors in the back," the White House spokesman said.

Powell, appearing Sunday on CNN's "Late Edition," said the United States urged Israel to consider the long-term implications of any response.

As previously scheduled, Powell will meet Tuesday with Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres on the sidelines of an OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) in Bucharest, Romania.

The administration's new Mideast envoy, retired Marine Gen. Anthony Zinni, remains in the in the region, and is in touch with the Israelis and Palestinians, one U.S. official noted.

Bush held a lengthy midmorning meeting with his National Security Council, including the secretaries of state and defense. Aides said the meeting included a detailed discussion on the Middle East.

Hanna: Strategic decision from Israel

December 3, 2001 Posted: 12:37 PM EST (1737 GMT)

GAZA CITY (CNN) -- As Israeli military forces launched attacks on Palestinian targets Monday -- including Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's guards' residences in Gaza City -- CNN's Mike Hanna filed this report from Jerusalem.

HANNA: Shortly before sunset, Israeli helicopters fired a number of missiles at a target in Gaza City. The missiles fell near the compound of Palestinian Authority leader Yasser Arafat. According to Palestinian security sources, two of Mr. Arafat's helicopters were destroyed in the attack. We just heard from hospital sources who say that more than 30 people have been injured in the attack.

According to a hospital spokesman, 15 of these were civilian Palestinians, and 17 were Palestinian police officers. The extent of the injuries are not known at this particular point.

Israel says this can be interpreted as a signal, an indication that it expects the Palestinian Authority leader to crack down on militant groups within the Palestinian territories. All this is in response to a series of suicide bombings over the weekend, which left a number of Israelis killed and which upped the heat in this ongoing conflict in the region.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is expected to address the nation Monday night, delivering a message to the Israeli people. After, the Israeli cabinet is going to be meeting in what is expected to be a lengthy session. Israeli government sources say a decision will be made during that cabinet meeting as to exactly what the Israeli government does from here on.

A strategic decision, says one source, will be taken as to whether Arafat can be considered a partner in the peace process, or whether there is no hope whatsoever in continuing along with this process.

The Israeli strike has come under immense Palestinian criticism. One chief negotiator has said it fuels the situation; it makes it more difficult for the Palestinian Authority to get control of the situation and to take action against those who have been planning and carrying out attacks against Israeli civilians.

The following is the translated text of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's address Monday as provided by the Israeli government.

I first send my condolences to the families of those who were murdered and hope the many who were wounded will get well soon.

I got back from the U.S. after speaking with President Bush. He asked me to express to the Israeli people his deep grief and honest condolences. He said the U.S. is a true friend and partner of Israel in peace and in the war against terrorism; the U.S. and Israel stand together.

We have fought many wars and won them all. We defeated our enemies, and we made peace. We held the sword and made the desert bloom. We built cities, developed agriculture and industry and turned Israel into an example to many countries. We will continue doing this, and we will never stop.

A war of terror was forced upon us -- a war which has many victims every day. It's negotiated, managed systematically. The purpose of terrorists and those who send them and aid them is to expel us, to drive us to despair, to lose our vision. This will never happen. No other nation would display such maturity and steadfastness. I am aware that even in other things we face difficulties and display strength.

While they already understand that they will never succeed, they continue to slaughter innocent civilians. Just for killing's sake, just to murder.

I say from Jerusalem, our eternal capital forever, whomever chooses to kill us will pay a price. Like the U.S., under the courageous leadership of Bush, going full force against terrorism, so shall we, with every means we have.

Don't be tempted by false prophecies. This battle will not be easy or short, but we'll prevail. We don't start wars: This war was forced on us. Arafat is responsible for all. He made his strategic decision of terrorism to reach diplomatic achievements by murdering. In this, he chose terrorism.

For a long time, the world didn't realize Arafat's true nature. Lately, there's a change. People have begun to see the real Arafat. He's the biggest obstacle for peace and stability in the Middle East. But he will not fool this government. This time, he will not fool us. The situation that Arafat has brought upon us hurts them, first and foremost. We will prosecute the terrorists, perpetrators and abettors; they will pay the price.

Today I convened all the security chiefs, and soon I will meet with the government. We will make decisions on fighting terrorism. I will not elaborate on that. The government is a unity government. This is a time of emergency, and it's important to have a unity government representing all the people of Israel.

I'm not afraid for the future of the unity government. It is the most important thing now in our fight in the war against terrorism, so that there can be quiet and we may negotiate. We will do whatever it takes; the government will reach decisions.

Unfortunately, the Palestinian Authority and Arafat are directly responsible for the serious situation we now face. It's impossible for the terrorists to do what they do without receiving shelter and aid from Arafat. They are allowed headquarters and training camps next to Arafat's headquarters. He has done nothing to deter them.

We see Arafat as directly responsible for what is going on. We will make our decisions in the proper time and place. The person directly responsible for the deaths in Israel and the plight of the Palestinians is Arafat. We will act accordingly.

We will take the necessary measures, but I think that Arafat brought us to this situation as a result of the strategy of terror he's adopted. We will act until we put an end to terror. He is the one who's responsible for terror, and we'll take the necessary steps.

In due time we will end the war on terror, and when we reach an agreement, which I'm committed to and want, then we'll see. Now is not the time. We did the right thing, but considering the escalation in terror, we need further steps.

Unfortunately, I fought in all of Israel's wars. One thing I learned and taught is that during war everybody must stand together. It's unfitting at a time like this, before we even acted, to criticize. The best example we have right now of a nation standing united together is the United States of America. We shall learn from the Americans how a nation stands together at a time of war.

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