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American Morning

Israel Claims Arrest of One Assassination Suspect

Aired October 24, 2001 - 10:50   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: Want shift our attention this morning now to the Middle East, where a dramatic escalation in violence could -- could threaten the international coalition against terrorism. Israeli forces have charged into the West Bank again today. This on a manhunt for the killers of an Israeli cabinet member. Palestinians are saying that search has left a bloody trail of victims behind.

CNN Jerusalem Bureau Chief Mike Hanna live now with the latest from the Middle East. Mike, hello.

MIKE HANNA, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF: Hello, Bill. Well an ongoing escalation of this conflict throughout the day and throughout the week. Since the Israeli government minister, Rehavan Ze'evi was assassinated in a Jerusalem hotel.

The Israeli government has, within the last hour, announced that it has arrested a number of Palestinians in connection with the assassination of Mr. Ze'evi.

At least one of them in the West Bank village of Beit Rima. Now Beit Rima has been the focus of an intensive Israeli operation in the course of the day. Israeli forces sealed off the village, which is north of the West Bank's city of Ramallah. And troops poured in. At least six people, according to Israeli Defense Forces, six Palestinians were killed by the Israeli forces.

All say the Israeli Defense Force were known militants. However, Palestinians dispute this, they say as many as nine Palestinians were killed in the Israeli operation. They are dubbing this operation a massacre.

Well, Israel has moved into a number of Palestinian autonomous areas over the past week. Towns, villages, cities throughout the West Bank and Bethlehem, in particular, was once again a scene of conflict throughout the day as Palestinian gunmen exchanged fire with Israeli forces who ensconced themselves within the Palestinian-controlled city.

The Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, says that this operation will continue until its objectives have been achieved, with the arrest of the Palestinians allegedly in connection with the assassination of the government minister. It's not clear at this stage whether the operation is over, whether the withdrawal may begin in terms as well of a strong U.S. demand that this happen. Bill? HEMMER: Mike, quickly here, the Israeli government is saying that it wants the Palestinians, Yasser Arafat, to turnover those who they believe shot and killed this cabinet member last week. Has there been any movement in any direction on working toward that end?

HANNA: Well, first off the Palestinian Authority has stated categorically it will not hand over those responsible for the killing to the Israeli authorities. Although it has said it will hunt down and capture those. Basically will not hand them over it says because this is contravention of every agreement that has been reached between the Palestinian Authority and Israel. And said some -- observers contend that the ultimatum was phrased in such a way as one that the Palestinian Authority could not possibly comply with.

To hand over Palestinian suspects to the Israeli authorities would amount to political suicide for Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian Authority, Bill.

HEMMER: Another day, and more complications. Mike Hanna live in Jerusalem. Mike, thanks to you.

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