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CNN Live Today

Conflict in the Middle East: Israeli Military Operations Continue

Aired April 19, 2002 - 11:12   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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: On to the Middle East, where Israeli military operations continue today, both in the West Bank and Gaza. Our Jerusalem chief Mike Hanna is monitoring events for us from there -- Mike, hello.

MIKE HANNA, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF: Hi there, Daryn. Well, the Israeli forces have withdrawn from the West Bank city of Jenin that they have occupied now for a period of time in very controversial circumstances. The Palestinians claiming that a massacre took place while Israeli forces were in that city. This denied by Israel, which says that it was fired upon by Palestinian gunmen, and that it responded to this fire.

In the course of today, 35 Palestinians were buried in a single grave in the middle of Jenin and 23 Israeli soldiers were killed during the course of that Israeli operation in that city.

The Israeli forces now withdrawn from the city itself, but they have established a blockade around the perimeter of the city, still restricting the movement of Palestinians from either entering or leaving that particular area.

Israeli forces remain in a number of West Bank cities and towns and villages, although indications are that they may be preparing for withdrawal from the West Bank city of Nablus, another city which has been the scene of massive military action in recent days and indeed weeks.

But while withdrawing from Jenin, there was Israeli action in the Gaza Strip. There, Israeli forces moved into the southern town of Rafah. There was an exchange of fire. At least five Palestinians were killed in that incident. Israeli forces say that they were fired upon. Palestinians say that their people were killed in the course of this massive Israeli military incursion in to Rafah.

Gaza itself has been relatively quiet in the recent weeks, while Israel has mounted this massive military campaign, saying it was aiming at rooting out the hot beds of terror, as Israel puts it. Palestinians deny this saying that the Israeli action was an unacceptable invasion of Palestinian-controlled territory.

So the situation remains tense on the ground. Israeli forces remain in numerous West Bank towns and villages. And of course, also in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, where a siege of the Church of the Nativity, the place that Christians believe Christ was born, is still under way -- back to you, Daryn.

KAGAN: And, Mike, even though that pullout is taking place more and more as the weekend goes on, Bethlehem, as you mentioned, and Ramallah, two places that the Israelis still intend to keep a stronghold on.

HANNA: Yes. Well, the official line from the Israeli government is that the Israeli forces will not withdraw from Bethlehem until that situation in the Church of the Nativity is resolved. Israel contends that among those in the Church of the Nativity are a number of wanted Palestinian gunmen. Palestinians say that among those there too are a number of unarmed Palestinian civilians.

And as to the West Bank city of Ramallah, well, Israel has indicated that its siege of that city will continue, and in particular of the compound in which the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, is still holed up, will continue until they hand over to Israel at least five people who Israel says are wanted for the murder of an Israeli government minister last year.

So those two areas Israel says it will remain until its demands are met by the Palestinians. The Palestinians have absolutely resisted doing -- meeting these demands in recent days. Negotiations over what's happening in Bethlehem have broken down repeatedly. So although there is a withdrawal -- a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from some West Bank areas, those two areas in particular, Ramallah and the West Bank, are likely to remain a focal point of Israeli action in the days to come.

KAGAN: Mike Hanna on the scene in Jerusalem -- Mike, thank you so much.

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