World Tribune

Israel begins ground war in Gaza

Special to World Tribune.com

MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE

Wednesday, April 11, 2001

GAZA — Israel has launched a limited ground war against Palestinian targets in the Gaza Strip.

For the first time, Israeli troops entered the Gaza city of Khan Yunis and destroyed Palestinian Authority military positions and nearby homes.

Palestinian sources said about 100 troops, backed by tanks and bulldozers, were involved in the Israeli operation overnight Wednesday.

Israeli military sources confirmed the operation. They said the aim was to destroy a PA military post that was shelling the nearby Gush Katif bloc of settlements.

"What happened last night was clearly a defensive operation," Israeli Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said.

Palestinian sources reported that two PA officers were killed and another 20 were injured in the fighting. The sources said this was the first time Israeli military forces operated openly in territory controlled by the PA.

The overnight Israeli raid capped a day of tit-for-tat attacks in which Palestinians fired mortars at Israeli settlements and the Israeli military responded with anti-tank fire. On Tuesday, the Israeli military destroyed a PA police station in the northern Gaza village of Bet Khanoun by anti-tank fire. One Palestinian was killed and another 20 were injured.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was on the outskirts of Gaza during the attack. "I have a very clear plan," Sharon said. "This will be implemented and security will return. But we need staying power and patience."

Israeli military sources said deputy PA security chief Col. Rashid Abu Shback is responsible for the mortar attacks on Israeli positions.

In Washington, U.S. President George Bush again called for an end to the mini-war. Bush said the end to violence is required before any resumption of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

Palestinian sources said the PA is training thousands of recruits in five training camps throughout the Gaza Strip. The sources said the training is meant to stop an Israeli military invasion of the strip.

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2001