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CNN Live Today

Israelis Fire Stun Grenades, Tear Gas at Marching Palestinians

Aired April 26, 2002 - 12:10   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. Israeli troops fired tear gas and stun grenades at hundreds of marching Palestinians in Ramallah. That's where Yasser Arafat still remains confined to his quarters by the Israelis, and Matthew Chance now in Ramallah with more on the story and the rest of the day's developments there in the Middle East. Matthew, good evening.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good evening, Bill, and that's right. Let's start first of all, though, with the mounting controversy surrounding what is supposed to be the imminent arrival of a U.N. inspection team to the West Bank Palestinian refugee camp of Jenin, where of course some of the fiercest fighting took place between Palestinian gunmen and Israeli security forces in the weeks of military Israeli incursions in that area.

And the news that Ariel Sharon, the Israeli prime minister, has requested the United Nations for a delay in the sending of that investigation team. In his words, "to clarify matters." Already, the U.N. team -- the U.N. rather has agreed to include two military experts in the investigation team. That was something the Israelis were calling for.

Israel also wants a clearer definition of what the mandate for that U.N. team will be. It also wants immunity from prosecution for its soldiers. So, still a great deal of negotiations to be completed between the two sides before that team actually gets on the ground here in the West Bank. It's expected though to arrive on Saturday still.

Let's go back to Ramallah from where I'm speaking to you right now, of course the West Bank Palestinian town where Yasser Arafat continues to be holed up with several hundred of his supporters, surrounded by Israeli tanks outside in the streets there. A lot of frustration, a lot of anger as well, and it was very interesting, if not extremely frightening there today to see how that anger and frustration can quickly turn in to violence here.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHANCE (voice-over): The first Friday after the Israeli withdrawal from Ramallah, and Palestinian demonstrators are already back on the streets. This an act of defiance, one told me, to show support for Yasser Arafat and show the Israelis their will was still strong. Why have you come to protest here at this barricade today?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To show the Israeli government that we are here and we will keep fighting to the end, until they get out of all of them.

CHANCE: And fight they did, not with guns this time, but with rocks, across the Israeli barricades. There was a sharp response, live rounds and stun grenades pushed the protesters back.

(on camera): This is an example of just how quickly events here in Ramallah can quickly turn violent. Tear gas is thick in the air, flashbacks are being shot by the Israeli army, but Palestinians say despite this military action, they will continue to resist.

(voice-over): Later we heard Palestinian threats with promises of the Ramallah streets.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This continues and will continue until the occupation stops and leaves our country. Now what they did, it makes us more stronger and strong and we will hit more than before. They will see.

CHANCE: But for the moment at least, Israeli is maintaining the strictest control.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHANCE: So, Bill, a very volatile situation here on the streets of Ramallah as you can see. A lot of tension elsewhere in the West Bank as well. I just want to bring you, very briefly, some latest news we're getting through to us here in Ramallah, that the West Bank Palestinian town of Qalqilya has been entered by Israeli forces, that despite the fact that President Bush is continuing to call on the Israeli government to end peacefully those military incursions.

The reports we're getting trickling through to us now is the tanks have moved, rather Israeli armor has moved into the town of Qalqilya. We're hearing that at least one Palestinian has been killed, shot dead. The IDF, the Israeli Defense Force, the Israeli army say that in an exchange of fire, they killed the local leader of the PFLP.

That's one of the main parties in the PLO, along with Yasser Arafat's Fatah faction, so still a lot of military activity here on the ground in the West Bank. Bill, back to you.

HEMMER: It certainly is, Matthew, thanks. Matthew Chance reporting live there in Ramallah, where it is nightfall, just a bit past seven o'clock there in the Middle East. Matthew, thanks.

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