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American Morning

Israeli Planes Strike Palestinian Security Compound in Gaza

Aired December 07, 2001 - 07:35   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Right now we're going to turn our attention to the conflict in the Middle East. Over night, more Israeli attacks on Palestinian installations in Gaza.

CNN's Sheila MacVicar is in Jerusalem with the very latest.

Good morning, Sheila.

SHEILA MACVICAR, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.

Well after a two-day lull, Israeli jets struck a target in Gaza hitting a police compound there. The Israeli Defense Forces have issued a statement saying that there was a mortar manufacturing factory. Those strikes, after the Israelis say eight mortars were fired at Jewish settlements in Gaza. The Palestinians are reporting that at least 18 people were injured in those air strikes.

Now after those air strikes, Israel's defense minister told Israel Radio that Yasser Arafat needs to do a much more in his war against terror in order to show his commitment against terrorism. And the focus today is on the numbers, Paula, how many people have been arrested by the Palestinian Authority and frankly, are they the right people?

There is a relatively short list of just more than 30 names, people that both the Israelis and Americans say are key to both planning or carrying out acts of terror. Those are the people that they most want to see arrested, and so far they say less than half have been arrested.

Now Israel's government spokesman Rene Geisen (ph) told us just a short while ago that there had been some movement on the part of the Palestinians and Mr. Arafat but that in many ways many of the steps that he had taken were simply virtual steps. In other words, something that was not really substantial enough moving towards ending terrorism from the Palestinian territories and that Israel was still demanding that he do much more.

There's a security meeting taking place we believe in Tel Aviv right about now. It includes -- it's being headed by the American envoy General Zinni. He is meeting with Palestinian and Israeli security chiefs. They're all going to get together in a room and talk about the steps, talk about what the Palestinians are doing to try to ensure that there are no more suicide attacks.

Now General Zinni has a list of about 19 very specific measures he wants the Palestinians to take. It's not just arrests, it's going after the infrastructure of terrorism, things like money, safe houses, weapons and of course, weapons manufacturing facilities like that hit in Gaza last night.

Now in the territories today, of course it's Friday, it's a day of prayer and it's also a day where traditionally we've seen large demonstrations coming out of the mosques. Yasser Arafat declared a state of emergency a few days ago so those demonstrations on the street have been much smaller. In fact, today in Ramallah, all we saw there really were what could be described really as scuffles with Palestinian police as they tried to make sure that people didn't gather in large groups of any kind of demonstration that could be -- could be seen to be destabilizing to the situation.

Again, as I said, Paula, a lot of focus now on what Mr. Arafat will do and will he do what the Israelis and the Americans and frankly, others in the international community are asking him to do? A lot of pressure on him -- Paula.

ZAHN: And I know you'll be keeping a close eye on those meetings you just spoke about. We will be coming back to you when you're able to share any of the outcomes of those meetings.

Sheila MacVicar, thanks so much.

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