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CNN Live At Daybreak

Israeli Forces Enter Old Section of Nablus

Aired August 02, 2002 - 05:09   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: OK, we have to update you now on the Middle East. Israel has now launched a military operation in Palestinian controlled Nablus.

We want to get more from CNN's Jerusalem bureau chief Mike Hanna -- good morning, Mike.

MIKE HANNA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Carol.

Well, the Israeli forces have occupied Nablus and a number of other Palestinian cities for a long period of time now. However, they had not entered the old sector of the city or the kasbah. This they have done in the course of the morning, as part of what it says, the Israeli Defense Force says are anti-terror operations.

A large number of Israeli soldiers backed up by tanks, also Apache helicopters, have moved into the old area of the Nablus city. They said, the Israeli Defense Force, that they encountered gunfire from Palestinian gunmen. The Palestinian Red Crescent says at least three people have been killed in this Israeli operation.

This in the wake of a number of attacks within Israel. The last at the Hebrew University campus in Jerusalem, in which seven people were killed. Among those seven, five Americans. And two of the bodies of the Americans were flown home late last night from Tel Aviv on their way back to the United States for burial there. They will be arriving at John F. Kennedy Airport in a number of hours. Round about 6:00 Eastern time in the U.S., the bodies of the Americans who were killed in the Mount Scopus attack will be arriving.

So Israel taking punitive measures, seeking to stop what it says are these ongoing terror attacks, striking at source, it says, at those who are organizing, planning and carrying out those attacks in Palestinian areas like the old city of Nablus -- Carol.

COSTELLO: And Israel is also expelling the families of suicide bombers. It's taking action against their families. Can you tell us more about that?

HANNA: That is correct. There's been a debate within the Israeli government for a period of time now about the legality of doing this and they have decided now that they can expel family members of those who carry out attacks against Israeli civilians if they can prove that the family members knew about these attacks. This they have decided in two cases. These two members of families of people Israel said have carried out terror attacks are in the process of being exiled to Gaza from the West Bank, where they live. They are appealing that at present before a military court. If that appeal fails, they will go to the Israeli high court. So there's a legal process under way here.

But amidst these punitive measures, one little sign of perhaps easing, the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, has confirmed that he'll be meeting two Palestinian leaders next week, the new ministers of finance and of the interior. This an unprecedented step for the Sharon government, to actually meet with senior Palestinian leaders. This dependent, says a spokesman for Sharon, on the ongoing situation. But there is the possibility of a top level meeting involving the Israeli prime minister and Palestinian leaders next week -- Carol.

COSTELLO: And I'm sure we'll be following that.

Thank you.

Mike Hanna reporting live this morning from Jerusalem.

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