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American Morning

Israel Launches Raids Against Palestinian Targets

Aired May 14, 2001 - 11:12   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: Israel launched separate raids against several Palestinian targets today. In one of those raids in the West Bank, five Palestinian policemen were killed. Details now from our Jerusalem bureau chief, Mike Hanna.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIKE HANNA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The bodies of five Palestinian police officers aged between 18 and 27, they were killed overnight by Israeli fire. They'd been stationed at an outpost in Beituniya near the West Bank city of Ramallah. A Palestinian security official says the Israeli attack was totally unprovoked. The Israeli army says its troops in the area opened fire on what it described as suspicious figures.

Israel also mounted a major offensive in the Gaza Strip overnight. The stated targets of shells from naval vessels and missiles fired by helicopters, facilities associated with Palestinian security organizations as well as offices of Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement. Among the targets, at least eight armored vehicles used by the Palestinian police. A number of Palestinians were injured in the attacks, which Palestinian police have described as an unjustified Israeli crime.

"This is Sharon, and these are his actions," says Security Chief Abu Ali-Hassan (ph). "He targeted not just armored personal carriers, but also our political institutions and residential homes."

Israel says the offensive was launched in response to what it calls continuous Palestinian terror in recent days.

DORE GOLD, SHARON ADVISER: Israel is facing an upsurge of violence by Palestinian Authority security services, including roadside bombs, mortar attacks, sniping into Israeli itself. Israel's actions are being undertaken to bring that violence to an end.

HANNA: The Israeli cabinet has completed its response to the report of the Mitchell Committee, which was appointed to investigate the ongoing conflict. The stated intention of the committee, headed by former U.S. Senator George Mitchell, to create a basis on which the two sides themselves can renew negotiations leading to a lasting peace.

SHIMON PERES, ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER: We look with favor upon the Mitchell report. There are some complications. I believe we shall have some remarks. It seems we have some remarks. But as a document, I think the reception of it is quite promising.

HANNA: The Palestinians have also reacted favorably to the report, which is expected to be made public in the next few days along with the formal responses from each side.

(on camera): But the intense violence on the ground has survived every diplomatic initiative in more than seven months of conflict. And there's little indication that the Mitchell Committee report can succeed where previous peace-brokering efforts have failed.

Mike Hanna, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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