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CNN Sunday Morning

Violence Flares Up in the West Bank

Aired July 01, 2001 - 08:04   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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Violence has also flared up today in the West Bank. Israeli soldiers there killed two Palestinians who allegedly were trying to plant a bomb along a road where Jewish settlers were expected to pass later in the day. The recurring outbreaks illustrate the wide gulf between the diplomats who continue to talk of peace and the rank and file on both sides who seem only interested in vengeance.

CNN Jerusalem bureau chief Mike Hanna is on the line with us from Jerusalem -- Mike?

MIKE HANNA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Miles, once again sporadic incidents of violence in the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip. In the latest, two Palestinians killed in the early hours of this morning.

According to Palestinian security officials, the two, one a member of the Islamic Jihad movement, the other one a Palestinian police officer, were part of a planned attack on an Israeli position. This claim, too, by the Israeli Defense Force, which says that the two were part of a group attempting to plant a roadside bomb. The Israeli forces opened fire, killing the two Palestinians.

At least nine Palestinians have been killed since a cease-fire supposedly came into effect some 10 days ago. Also killed, some seven Israelis, a number of them settlers living in Palestinian areas. So the cease-fire on the ground as far as it pertains, still no signs of absolute peace being in place.

Israel insists that the cooling off period -- that's the term used in the Mitchell committee report -- and in terms of agreement reached last week when the U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell was in the region, that this cooling off period will not begin unless there have been seven days of absolute peace. This is Israel's position. The Palestinian Authority says that this seven day period has already begun.

But, once again, with the deaths on this day it's not clear exactly how or when this seven day period will begin and when, if ever, the so-called cooling off period will begin, a cooling off period aimed at getting the sides back to the negotiating table. But that appears to be a long way down the line from the situation as it is at present -- Miles?

O'BRIEN: A long way, indeed. Mike Hanna in Jerusalem, thank you very much.

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