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CNN Live Today

Journalists Fired On By Israeli Forces

Aired March 12, 2002 - 13:35   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Now to the Middle East, where Israeli military sources say at least six Israelis and two assailants were killed in a bus attack in Northern Israel. This coming amid one of the largest military offensives to date. Forces today moved into refugee camps in Gaza and in Ramallah to root out what they call terrorist infrastructures. The deadliest fighting came in Northern Gaza, 17 Palestinians killed there.

Ben Wedeman has more now from Ramallah in the West Bank.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Just after midnight, dozens of Israeli tanks and armored personnel carriers entered the West Bank city of Ramallah. They focused their attention on the El Amari refugee camp, home to about 8,000 people on the southern edge of the city. Israeli troops engaged in a severe -- a fierce gun battle with the residents of the camp. Later, Israeli jeeps went through with bull horns on top, calling upon camp residents, men between 15 and 45 to give themselves up, to surrender their weapons.

At the same time, just across the street from that refugee camp, journalists were filming this activity, and when that happened, they were on the fourth floor of a hotel and then, an Israeli armored personnel carrier opened fire on those journalists. Fortunately, they dove away from their cameras, but one of the cameras, a camera belonging to the ABC, the American network, was hit by seven bullets, including one bullet square in the lens.

Meanwhile, in other part of Ramallah, a Palestinian cameraman on the roof of this building I'm in, was filming the activity in the streets. His camera was hit by five bullets. These are the entry points. This is where they exited.

Throughout Tuesday, Israeli troops engaged in fire fights with Palestinians. From this window, we heard tank fire as well as intense machine gun fire as well. So far, it appears there have been casualties, Palestinian medical sources say at least five Palestinians killed in the action here, no casualties on the Israeli side.

I'm Ben Wedeman, CNN, reporting from Ramallah.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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