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CNN Live At Daybreak

Israel Responds to Mortar Attacks With Helicopter Strikes

Aired December 12, 2001 - 05:35   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.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY: There have been two new Israeli helicopter attacks in the Gaza Strip. We're going to go now to CNN's Chris Burns who's in Jerusalem with the very latest on the situation -- Chris.

CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Catherine, yes overnight the Israeli gunships -- helicopter gunships over the west -- over the Gaza Strip attacked a Palestinian police station in Khan Yunis -- that's a refugee camp in that area, as well as a Palestinian police vehicle, killing, according to the Israelis, two civilians and two militants of some kind -- militia men. This, of course, follows reports of mortar attacks on an Israeli settlement in that same area, as well as mortar attacks on an Israeli army compound.

Israelis saying that they will respond to any kind of attack like that. This comes, of course, in the wake of back and forth attacks by Palestinian militants and the Israelis striking back. What does this do to the diplomatic process, which has also intensified in recent days? Well, there's another meeting today between European Union Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana with the Israeli Defense Chief Ben Eliezer. According to a source close to Solana, that meeting went well. The Israelis insisting that they are willing to follow along with the U.S. proposal for a 48-hour calm in which the Israelis would not opt to go after and try to attack any militants unless they attack themselves.

So according to those ground rules, it does appear that this 48- hour strange calm of sorts seems to be sticking. Another meeting today between the U.S. envoy, General Anthony Zinni and Ben Eliezer as well. We'll have to see the upshot of that. Of course there is a nervous apprehension at this point, anxiety that another suicide bombing from the Palestinian side could set off yet another Israeli crackdown like we saw last week -- airstrikes in response to another suicide attack.

So that is the concern right now. Could things hold -- if things hold for the next 48 hours in that sense, perhaps there could be a hope of a continued calm and perhaps paving the way toward peace talks. Catherine.

CALLAWAY: And Chris we are seeing some action by the Palestinian authority with some arrests and some people being stopped and questioned. Can you tell us more about that?

BURNS: Well that's right. In fact the Israelis, as well as the European Chief -- Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana have made their comments in the last couple of days saying that they have observed a very fundamental change in the Palestinian approach -- the Palestinian authority approach, Yasser Arafat's approach in cracking down on these militants, actually making serious steps to try to go after the -- what has been identified as a terrorist network -- the Hamas as well as the Islamic Jihad.

So those efforts have intensified. The Israelis say that they are satisfied over those efforts the last couple of days, but will that continue with those efforts only to appease and make happy Solana during his visit. Will that continue in the coming days -- we'll have to see. Catherine.

CALLAWAY: Yes we will. Thank you Chris Burns in Jerusalem. Thanks Chris.

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