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CNN Live At Daybreak

About 100 Israeli Settlers Riot in Hebron

Aired July 29, 2002 - 05:31   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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: To the Middle East now. About 100 Israeli settlers said to be responding to rock throwing Palestinians rioted in the West Bank town of Hebron. The riot left one 13-year-old Palestinian girl dead. Twenty-one Palestinians also were injured, along with 15 Israeli police officers.

We want to get more on that and the fallout from the riot from our Jerusalem bureau chief, Mike Hanna -- good morning, Mike.

MIKE HANNA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning.

The situation in Hebron remains tense. No incidents of any violence reported in the course of the morning. There, the violence erupted Sunday following a funeral for a Jewish settler. After the funeral, according to eyewitnesses, Jewish settlers rampaged through Palestinian neighborhoods, opening fire on one occasion. A Palestinian girl killed in that gunfire.

Israeli police say they are investigating the circumstances.

That violence a backdrop to tentative moves to reducing the, or bettering the living conditions of Palestinians. In the course of the day, Israel is to finally hand over some $15 million. This a small part of the taxes and Palestinian revenues that Israel has withheld from the Palestinian Authority throughout the 22 months of this intifada. That money due to be handed over in the course of the day to the Palestinian finance minister.

This part of a series of measures that Israel says is designed to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians, including as well the allowing of a greater number of Palestinian workers to enter Israeli areas to work. Another 5,000 Palestinian workers will be allowed in.

In addition, Israel's defense minister, Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, says he hopes there will be security contacts between Israelis and Palestinians in the next few days, security contacts aimed at once again reducing the level of that violence.

So although conflict continues on the ground, there are tentative moves to try and alleviate the situation, to lessen the level of the conflict -- back to you.

COSTELLO: All right, Mike Hanna reporting live from Jerusalem this morning. Thank you for that report.

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