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CNN Live At Daybreak
Deadly West Bank Firefight
Aired August 08, 2003 - 06:06 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: A so-called pinpoint operation may be another smudge, a bump if you will, on that road map to peace. A few hours ago, Israeli forces raided a West Bank refugee camp, looking for Palestinian militants. There was gunfire and death.
Live now to Sheila MacVicar.
Hello -- Sheila.
SHEILA MACVICAR, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Carol.
Yes, indeed, Israeli defense forces surrounded a house in a refugee camp outside the West Bank city of Nablus in the early hours of this morning. They were going after a wanted Hamas activist. There was an exchange of fire. We now know and can report that an Israeli soldier was killed in that operation. In addition to that, it does appear that the Israeli forces also killed that wanted Hamas activist.
Now, of course, this comes at a time when there is this cease- fire in place, this unilateral cease-fire declared by the Palestinian militant factions. Since that cease-fire went into place about six weeks or so ago, there has been violence on both sides, albeit at a lower level. This is just one of the most recent impacts of that violence.
And the question now is: What impact, if any, will this have on the Palestinian militant cease-fire, a cease-fire which is being enjoyed by the majority of both Palestinians and Israelis?
Now, we are hearing from Hamas spokespeople in Gaza that they are saying -- quote -- "That they are studying this very carefully," and that if they do not see any additional improvement on the ground, they may have to rethink this cease-fire.
Now, at the same time, we're also hearing reports of additional violence on Israel's northern border -- this time with the Lebanese militant group, Hezbollah. There was a killing of a Hezbollah senior officer, if you will, about six days or so ago, a killing which Hezbollah blamed on Israel. Since that time, there has been skirmishing across that border. Today, we saw retaliation by Israeli forces after Hezbollah militants launched rockets and anti-aircraft fire into Israel. We are told that no one was hurt in those exchanges.
So, the question now, Carol, the really important question is what impact will all of this have on the cease-fire, or hudnah (ph) as it's known here, and if it will in any way damage that continuing commitment to that cease-fire -- Carol.
COSTELLO: We'll have to see. Sheila MacVicar reporting live out of Jerusalem this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired August 8, 2003 - 06:06 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: A so-called pinpoint operation may be another smudge, a bump if you will, on that road map to peace. A few hours ago, Israeli forces raided a West Bank refugee camp, looking for Palestinian militants. There was gunfire and death.
Live now to Sheila MacVicar.
Hello -- Sheila.
SHEILA MACVICAR, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Carol.
Yes, indeed, Israeli defense forces surrounded a house in a refugee camp outside the West Bank city of Nablus in the early hours of this morning. They were going after a wanted Hamas activist. There was an exchange of fire. We now know and can report that an Israeli soldier was killed in that operation. In addition to that, it does appear that the Israeli forces also killed that wanted Hamas activist.
Now, of course, this comes at a time when there is this cease- fire in place, this unilateral cease-fire declared by the Palestinian militant factions. Since that cease-fire went into place about six weeks or so ago, there has been violence on both sides, albeit at a lower level. This is just one of the most recent impacts of that violence.
And the question now is: What impact, if any, will this have on the Palestinian militant cease-fire, a cease-fire which is being enjoyed by the majority of both Palestinians and Israelis?
Now, we are hearing from Hamas spokespeople in Gaza that they are saying -- quote -- "That they are studying this very carefully," and that if they do not see any additional improvement on the ground, they may have to rethink this cease-fire.
Now, at the same time, we're also hearing reports of additional violence on Israel's northern border -- this time with the Lebanese militant group, Hezbollah. There was a killing of a Hezbollah senior officer, if you will, about six days or so ago, a killing which Hezbollah blamed on Israel. Since that time, there has been skirmishing across that border. Today, we saw retaliation by Israeli forces after Hezbollah militants launched rockets and anti-aircraft fire into Israel. We are told that no one was hurt in those exchanges.
So, the question now, Carol, the really important question is what impact will all of this have on the cease-fire, or hudnah (ph) as it's known here, and if it will in any way damage that continuing commitment to that cease-fire -- Carol.
COSTELLO: We'll have to see. Sheila MacVicar reporting live out of Jerusalem this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
