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CNN Live At Daybreak

Israeli Troops Withdraw From West Bank Cities Despite Violence in Jerusalem

Aired November 05, 2001 - 05:15   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: And now to the Middle East, where Israeli troops pulled out of the West Bank town of Qalqilya early today. But Israeli defense forces remain in the West Bank cities of Nablus, Jenin and Tularkm.

Israel sent troops into the West Bank towns after last month's assassination of the Israeli tourism minister. Today, the troop pullout from Qalqilya comes on the heels of a violent weekend.

More now from CNN's Mike Hanna.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIKE HANNA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The attack was carried out at the height of rush hour. Israeli police say at least one Palestinian gunman opened fire on a crowded bus as it was coming through the area of French Hill in northeast Jerusalem. In addition to the deaths, more than 30 Israelis were wounded.

A Palestinian armed with an M-16 rifle was shot dead at the scene. Police say the man was from the West Bank city of Hebron and has been identified as a member of the radical Islamic Jihad Movement.

This is the most serious of several Palestinian attacks on Israelis in French Hill, an area in East Jerusalem that was occupied by Israel in 1967. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has canceled a planned visit to the U.S. at the end of this week, during which he was due to meet the U.S. president. A spokesman for Mr. Sharon says the cancellation results from ongoing concerns about the security situation.

Earlier Sunday, Israeli combat helicopters attacked three buildings in the northern Gaza Strip. The Israeli defense force says mortars were being manufactured in the buildings, this denied by Palestinian security officials.

(on camera): The ongoing violence clear evidence that recent international attempts to revive the peace process have had little effect and hopes that a new initiative could be broached in a face to face meeting between Ariel Sharon and President Bush have been put on hold following the postponement of the Israeli prime minister's U.S. visit.

Mike Hanna, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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