ISRAEL - resumes daylight attacks after mortar attack

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bbc 10 April, 2001, 14:48 GMT 15:48 UK

Israel resumes daylight attacks

Israeli troops have fired missiles and shells at Palestinian military posts in the Gaza Strip following the latest Palestinian mortar attack on an Israeli settlement.

The Israeli attacks - the first in daylight for several months - follow a steady escalation in missile and mortar bombardments by both sides in recent days.

Four tank shells were fired at and destroyed a border post at Beit Hanun after Palestinians fired mortar bombs at Nisanit, which lies nearby in Israel's settlement bloc in northern Gaza.

Earlier, a Palestinian military doctor was killed and at least 12 people were injured when Israeli rockets hit the Palestinian naval and military intelligence bases in Beit Lahia, just south of Nisanit.

The doctor had come to the scene to treat casualties from a first rocket when he was killed by a second.

About a dozen others were injured in a tank shell attack on a military intelligence base in Deir el-Balah.

'State of war'

Senior Palestinian figures are now referring to the current Israeli attacks as a "state of war". Israel insists that if the Palestinians end their campaign of violence, they will not conduct any further military action.

For most of the six-month Palestinian uprising against the Israeli occupation in Gaza and the West Bank, Israel's air strikes have come at night, when the Palestinian bases being targeted are empty.

The Israeli army said the attack on the Palestinian military intelligence base was in retaliation for three mortar bombs fired at a Jewish settlement in Gaza earlier on Tuesday. No-one was injured in this attack.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who was touring the Gaza border at the time of the Israeli rocket attack on Beit Lahia, said he was determined to restore security to Israelis.

Security talks

The latest violence came as Washington said it would help Israeli and Palestinian officials resume security talks, after the two sides failed to meet for scheduled talks on Monday.

US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said both sides had agreed in principle to continue discussions.

Jordan's King Abdullah will urge President George W Bush to fully re-engage in the Middle East peace process when they meet later on Tuesday in Washington.

Israel accuses forces close to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat of the mortar attacks.

"I have a very clear programme. That programme will be implemented and security will return," said Mr Sharon, who was elected on a promise to make Israel a safe place.

The Israeli media has reported that stopping the Palestinian mortar attacks is a priority for Mr Sharon.

Mr Arafat says that Israel is implementing a 100-day plan of gradual escalation against the Palestinians - an allegation denied by Israel.

Six months of conflict have left more than 460 dead, among them over 370 Palestinians, about 70 Jewish Israelis, and about 20 Arab Israelis.

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2001


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