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CNN Live Today

West Bank Scene of Fiercest Fight of Israeli Offensive

Aired April 10, 2002 - 10:05   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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Now onto the West Bank, scene of the fiercest fighting in the 13 days of the Israeli offensive.

We check now in with CNN's John Vause, who brings us this live update from Jerusalem -- John, hello.

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Leon.

What we are hearing from Jenin now that operation is ongoing, we are told by the Israeli Defense Force, even though we are told that those Palestinian gunman are surrendering. They are giving themselves up in the hundreds. We are told that there is a small group still holed up, still fighting, that according to the Israeli Defense Force.

The Palestinians for their part saying they have pretty much given up the fight, because they have run out of ammunition, and they have taken huge losses on their side. And those who haven't surrendered are now on the run.

And we also know that in Jenin, 13 Israeli soldiers killed there yesterday in what the Israelis called ambush. The Palestinians say at least 150 on their side were killed. They say men, women and children were killed. They are calling it a massacre. The Israelis say that these were people who were either part of the terrorist organization or were helping the gunmen.

Now, we also know on the ground there that Israeli tanks are in place. This is all part of the Operation Defensive Shield, which the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, says will continue. It is not over until it's over. And he says, that in fact that operation ongoing across the West Bank in a number of Palestinian cities, not only in Jenin, but in Nablus there. The Palestinians say at least 48 people have been killed, but the fighting pretty much over there in Nablus.

In Bethlehem, there are reports that a monk was shot in the back. The Israeli Defense Force says there is an investigation into that to find out who was responsible for that shooting.

We also know that the Israeli tanks are in the town of Dura. They moved in there yesterday, and they are still there. And while there has been a pullout from the towns of Qalquilya and Tulkarem, we are also being told that those tanks are maintaining a security perimeter around these two towns on the West Bank. Operation Defensive Shield by all accounts is still going strong, despite growing pressure from the United States and other international communities -- Leon.

HARRIS: All right, John, you are speaking of that pressure from the international community. Some of that pressure is being applied on Israel to allow more humanitarian aid to at least get through to some of the civilians, who have been locked in their homes for weeks at a time in some cases. Any talk or any word about whether or not there is any other cooperation there?

VAUSE: This comes down to that old argument, he said, they said. You talk to the Israelis, they say the Palestinians won't let the ambulances through. The Palestinians won't let the food get through. The Palestinians say it is the Israelis. The Israelis are stopping the convoys of food and medicine from entering the camp. The reality is though that on the ground, people are being locked in their homes. They haven't seen daylight for days.

There are reports of Palestinian women trying to keep their children alive, and children dying for lack of water -- this coming from the Palestinians. The Palestinians are saying that they are not getting any food, that there are severe cases of dysentery in those areas. There has been no garbage collection. There is no water supply, no electricity.

There is a call from the United Nations who is urging the Israelis to abide by the basic standards of humanitarian care and relief, and allow them to get access to food and water. That situation is still unresolved on the ground at this stage -- Leon.

HARRIS: Yes. These two sides can't seem to agree on anything at all. John Vause in Jerusalem -- thank you very much. We will check back with you later on.

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