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American Morning

Israeli Troops Target Ramallah

Aired June 10, 2002 - 09:09   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: Let's go to the Middle East right now. Israeli troops now on the move in the West Bank again. Earlier today, the Israeli Defense Force saying it is rounding up suspected Palestinian terrorists. Specifically, the latest target has been Ramallah and the compound of Yasser Arafat.

Matthew Chance, back live with us today in the West Bank -- Matthew, hello.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bill, Israeli tanks, troops, armored personnel carriers back on the streets of Ramallah, taking up positions across the city. But you might be able to make out behind me taking up positions outside Yasser Arafat's presidential compound as well.

Over the course of the past few hours, we've been hearing heavy machine gunfire, and even tank shelling, directed at buildings -- not buildings inside the compound, but buildings immediately outside the walls. The IDF, the Israeli Defense Force, the Israeli military, say they're not targeting the Palestinian leader on this occasion. Instead, as you mentioned, they're rounding up suspected Palestinian terrorists. They say they have 27 people in detention.

They are also looking for bomb factories and arm caches here in Ramallah. This, of course, in finality, Bill, was the day in which the Palestinian Cabinet, the new, streamlined, more accountable version, was meant to have its first meeting. But of course, with the curfew here, that will not be taking place.

HEMMER: Matthew, thanks. Matthew Chance, reporting live in Ramallah.

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