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American Morning

Fighting Erupts in Bethlehem After Car Explodes Killing Three Palestinians

Aired October 19, 2001 - 10:40   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Daryn we mentioned it, over in the Middle East overnight, Israeli tanks rolled into Bethlehem and other parts of the West Bank, and CNN Jerusalem Chief Mike Hanna brings us up to date now, from his post in Jerusalem on what could be a heightening of tensions once again. Mike, hello.

MIKE HANNA, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF: Hello, Bill, well the sun is setting on yet another day of intense conflict. An escalation in the fighting that began with assassination Wednesday of an Israeli cabinet minister.

At least two Palestinians have been killed in clashes with Israeli forces in the course of this day. And a third Palestinian -- a young boy was killed when he picked up an Israeli army shell from an army tank.

Also an Israeli soldier was seriously wounded when shot by shot by Palestinian gunmen in the West Bank city of Bethlehem.

In Bethlehem, too, the funeral of three Palestinian militants who were killed overnight. The three were members of the armed wing of Yasser Arafat's Fatah organization. Among them, Atef Abayet (ph), a man said by Israel to be wanted for killing of several civilians. They were in a car that exploded -- all three being killed instantly.

The Israeli government denied any complicity in that killing. However, the Palestinian security officials insist that it was an Israeli assassination. Yet another in the long line of an assassination say the Palestinians. Just shortly after the explosion occurred there was an intense firefight.

Palestinian gunfire going into the nearby Jewish area of Elo. Israeli forces responded to this fire. There was a lengthy and intense exchange of gunfire, which hasn't happened in that area for a long period of time. And then, in the early hours of the morning, the Israeli tanks moved into positions in the Palestinian-controlled city of Bethlehem. They had moved out of the city some six weeks ago, following a truce agreement on the ground.

But clearly, no truce in sight. The conflict that the U.S. had sought so hard to diminish now raging on yet another day. Bill? HEMMER: Clearly it is tense and clearly it is ongoing. Mike Hanna in Jerusalem. Thank you.

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