Palestinian, Israeli security officials meet

From CNN Correspondent Jerrold Kessel

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israeli and Palestinian security officials met Wednesday night with U.S. officials in Tel Aviv, just hours after Israel launched a military strike at a refugee camp in Palestinian-controlled Gaza.

But while the security chiefs talked, diplomats from both sides indicated they were still far apart on finding a way back to the negotiating table for peace talks.

An Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman told CNN that a solution to the violence is "simple."

"Arafat has to give the right orders, stop attacking Israel, stop attacking Israeli civilians," said Arye Mekel, referring to Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat.

AUDIO CNN's Jerrold Kessel: UN officials warn violence could escalate 730K/68 sec. AIFF or WAV sound     TIMELINES Recent acts of violence in the Middle East:  • Bombings  • Activist deaths

But the chief Palestinian negotiator and a member of the Palestinian cabinet told CNN, "We heard (Israeli Prime Minister Ariel) Sharon say he has a plan. "I don't think he was speaking about a peace plan. He was talking about a military plan," said Saeb Erakat. "... If this government thinks they can get to peace through the language of the missiles and the guns that is a big mistake."

Erakat said peace will only be obtainable through the end of what he called the Israeli "occupation" of the Palestinian territories.

"What are 3,000 settlers doing amid 1.2 million Palestinians in Gaza? And who is surrounding what? Is Arafat surrounding Israeli towns and shelling them with his tanks every night?" he asked.

Erakat said the Palestinians had offered a plan during a recent meeting in Athens, Greece, in which both sides would honor signed agreements, but at the same time implement security agreements, political agreements, and interim peace agreements.

"We are still waiting to hear from them," Erakat said of the Israelis, adding he had little hope Wednesday's security meetings would produce any progress.

"I believe tomorrow there will be Israeli bombs, Israeli shelling, Israeli shootings, Israeli siege, Israeli settlements, Israeli assassinations, and then the spokespersons will come and say the Palestinians must stop the violence," said Erakat.

He said Israel wants the Palestinians to lower their expectations and "accept the occupation. Occupation and peace are two parallels that will never meet."

The United States has been pressing both sides to resume security cooperation. After an initial meeting last week, Israeli forces fired on a car carrying Palestinian Preventative Security Chief Mohammed Dahlan as he returned to Gaza. Dahlan was not injured.

The security meeting comes after the Israeli army rolled into a refugee camp near Khan Unis in Palestinian-controlled Gaza overnight with heavily armed tanks and bulldozers. A firefight began when a call came out from the Mosques to defend the camp.

The assault was the latest Israeli retaliation for Palestinian mortar attacks on Jewish settlements in Gaza.

One Palestinian policeman and one civilian were killed, according to doctors at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis. Dozens more were injured.

At least 30 buildings were destroyed or heavily damaged, Palestinians said.

While the Israeli army said the buildings were unoccupied, the Palestinians said the buildings were homes where people lived.

The Israeli army said it razed 11 vacant buildings.

But Khan Yunis Mayor Osama Fara said 15 homes were destroyed and another 15 were heavily damaged. Hundreds of people were left homeless, Fara claimed.

Israeli Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said Israel doesn't want to occupy the camp, but also doesn't want Palestinians to return there either.

Ben-Eliezer called it an act of "self defense," but Palestinians portrayed it as an Israeli war against the Palestinian Authority.

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April 4, 2001

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