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American Morning

Israel Pinpoints Strikes Against Palestinian Targets

Aired April 18, 2001 - 10:08   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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: More international news now to the Middle East where another diplomatic powder keg threatens to ignite. For the second consecutive day, Israeli troops have plunged into Gaza and delivered what they are calling a pinpoint strike against Palestinian targets. But the Israeli action has not gone unanswered. CNN Jerusalem bureau chief Mike Hanna joins us on the phone. He's got more on that -- Mike.

MIKE HANNA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Israeli troops conducted what they called a pinpoint operation against the Palestinian police posts in southern Gaza near the Rafa crossing point. The Israeli defense force says after gunfire had originated from the particular police outposts, they deployed bulldozers into the area, destroyed the outposts, and say the Israelis withdrew the tanks that had been there to protect them.

Earlier on in the day, there were two separate mortar attacks within Gaza by Palestinian mortar wielders. And nobody was injured in those particular attacks. Also, Israel completed its withdrawal from the position it has taken the last 24 hours in the far northern Gaza Strip, the area of Bet Kanun (ph). This has been the first time that Israel had reoccupied this part of Palestinian-controlled territory since it withdrew in terms of various peace agreements seven years ago.

But now the Israeli troops have withdrawn to their previous positions, the withdrawal coming a matter of hours after strong criticism from the United States for the recent Israeli actions. But the Israeli government insists that the operation has always planned to be one of short duration, that the U.S. criticism had nothing to do with the decision to withdraw.

However, stills arguments it appears the Israeli military and the politicians on that particular point. The senior Israeli army officer said Tuesday that Israeli troops would remain within Palestinian territory for a matter of weeks or even months. The Israeli government now says that this officer was speaking out of turn, that the fact in the course of this day Israeli bulldozers and tanks have moved into Palestinian-controlled areas to destroy, they say, a Palestinian police outpost an indication that Israel prepared to deploy troops wherever it believes necessary to present ongoing attacks against Israel.

HARRIS: Mike Hanna reporting live from Jerusalem. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com