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American Morning

Conflict in Middle East Threatening to Explode into Full-Scale War

Aired March 14, 2002 - 07:02   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Up front this morning, though, the conflict in the Middle East is threatening to explode into a full scale war just as U.S. peace envoy General Anthony Zinni arrives in the region. Today, a bomb exploded in the Gaza Strip, killing three Israelis. And in the West Bank, three Palestinians were killed as Israeli tanks advanced further into Palestinian territory.

The violence complicates the U.S. peace mission and comes a day after President Bush, as we just heard, was critical of Israel's recent military aggression.

CNN's Mike Hanna joins us now from Jerusalem with the very latest -- good morning, Mike.

MIKE HANNA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning, Paula.

The conflict remains unchanged. It means it remains at unprecedented levels. Within the last few hours, a number of deaths once again on the ground. In the Gaza Strip, three Israeli soldiers in a tank were killed. They were escorting a convoy of settlers near the settlement of Netzarim when a bomb exploded alongside the tank in which they were traveling. This tank, a MacCarver tank (ph), the second time that an Israeli tank has been destroyed in this type of explosion. The tank previously thought to be indestructible by the Israeli military. So three Israeli soldiers killed in that Palestinian attack.

And in the West Bank city of Ramallah, the Israeli reoccupation of that city continues. Israeli tanks and troops continue to move through the streets of the West Bank city. In the course of the morning, at least three Palestinians have been killed in Israeli fire during those massive military operations.

These operations part of an intensification of Israeli military strategy. In recent days it has decided to move into several Palestinian controlled areas, attempt to arrest militants within those areas. This has been strongly criticized by the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinians now say that if Israel does not withdraw from these Palestinian controlled areas, there will be no negotiation with Anthony Zinni.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) NABIL ABDU RUDEINEH, ARAFAT ADVISER: Without their immediate withdrawal, there won't be any connection or any meeting with any Israeli before they stop their aggression and their withdrawal from all the cites, including Bethlehem and Ramallah and Gaza cities.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANNA: Anthony Zinni, due to arrive in the region within the next few hours. And not much time for him to catch his breath. He'll be meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon shortly after his arrival. But the latest Palestinian threat not to take part in any cease-fire talks while the Israeli reoccupation of Palestinian controlled areas continues is just another blow to Zinni's mission -- Paula.

ZAHN: Mike Hanna, thanks so much for that update.

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