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CNN Live Today

Israeli Soldiers Scour West Bank

Aired March 12, 2002 - 14:32   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: It is said to be the largest military offensive by Israel since 1982. And soldiers today scoured the West Bank and Gaza to flush out "terrorist infrastructures." Israeli forces have taken aim at refugee camps in Ramallah and in northern Gaza, where at least 17 Palestinians were killed in what one official called a "bloodbath."

Sheila MacVicar now reports on the very latest on what's happening in the Middle East.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SHEILA MACVICAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): There was a fierce firefight here in the crowded alleyways of this camp. In less than two hours, 17 Palestinians were dead, 80 more wounded. And from the mosques came an appeal for blood donations. A chief negotiator for the Palestinians called it a "bloodbath."

Prime Minister Sharon has said this military operation is meant to subdue Palestinian resistance. Last night this leader of Hamas called for revenge.

ABDEL AZIZ RANTISI, HAMAS SPOKESMAN: We will retaliate. And, Sharon, you should wait.

MACVICAR: Two hours later as Israeli forces pulled out of Jabaliya, on the West Bank dozens more tanks and troops prepared to enter Ramallah. Israeli tanks rumbled past garden walls. There was no sleep.

(GUNFIRE)

MACVICAR: At least five people have died. More are wounded. Ambulances could not move through the city. Just yesterday, Mr. Sharon had said Yasser Arafat was free to travel the West Bank and Gaza. This morning tanks were again outside his office.

(on camera): U.S. envoy General Zinni will not arrive here until Thursday. That is many hours from now, many hours for this level of violence to continue. And many hours for the death toll to rise. Sheila MacVicar, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEOTAPE) HEMMER: Once again, we mentioned Dick Cheney's in the region. Anthony Zinni should be there later in the week. To the White House we go, and Kelly Wallace. Certainly they're keeping close track of this. What are they saying today? Kelly, good afternoon.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon to you, Bill. They certainly are keeping close track of this. Asked about the latest violence, Ari Fleischer, the White House press secretary saying that it underscores the importance of General Zinni's mission to the region.

As Sheila just reported, he's expected there later this week, again, trying to urge both sides, the Israelis and the Palestinians, to pull back. He also mentioned the vice president, as we know, in Jordan today, meeting with King Abdullah of Jordan. This meeting very, very important. Jordan, one of the closest allies to the United States. Jordan, as well as many other Arab allies, very concerned about the violence in the Middle East, calling on the U.S. to play a much bigger role.

Also, there, though, as you know, the vice president talking about how to deal with the threat posed by Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. This a very difficult diplomatic challenge for the White House. Because Jordan, again, a very close ally to the United States, publicly speaking out, saying any military attack against Iraq would be destabilizing to the region, a very big concern, indeed. So Mr. Cheney definitely has his hands full, you could say, talking about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

But again, talking about what to do about Iraq. As you know, Bill, U.S. officials continue to say the president has not made any decision about whether to pursue a military action against Iraq. But you know that many Arab leaders are very concerned about that. Certainly Mr. Cheney likely to hear that from King Abdullah today -- Bill.

HEMMER: Guaranteed on that. Kelly, thanks. Kelly Wallace, front line at the White House.

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