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CNN Sunday Morning

Israel on High Alert for Bombings

Aired August 19, 2001 - 09:10   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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Now to the latest in the conflict in the Middle East. Israeli police are on high alert because of the threat of more suicide bombings.

Our Jerrold Kessel joins us now from Jerusalem. Hi, Gerald.

JERROLD KESSEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Kyra. This low intensity confrontation of the last few days between the Israelis and Palestinians turning lethal again today, and two Palestinians have been shot and killed in separate incidents.

In the first, on the West Bank, near the town of Nablus, Palestinians who were trying to avoid a cordon around their city late, by Israeli troops, bypassing it by walking through the hills. Fire was opened, say the Palestinians, by troops at the checkpoint nearby, the Israeli checkpoint. One man, a 38-year-old man, was shot and killed and at least three other Palestinians injured in that incident. The Israeli army having no comment on that shooting.

Down in Gaza, a 13-year-old boy was shot and killed. The Israeli army says that six grenades were fired at one of its patrols and the youths were throwing stones, and the fire was returned by the troops.

Also in Nablus last night, near a checkpoint, the Palestinians say a half year old baby was shot and seriously hurt when fire was opened by soldiers of the checkpoint at the taxi in which he and his mother were traveling. The baby in serious condition. Again, the Israeli army not responding and having comment on that incident.

Israel reporting, and indeed there was, an attack on an Israeli bus on the outskirts of Jerusalem, near the suburbs of Jerusalem East and outskirts. Last night two Israelis shot and wounded, one, a six- year-old girl in that incident, a drive-by shooting incident.

And Israeli troops, as we report, Israeli police are in and around major cities on high alert after the end of last week. On Friday, the Israelis intercepted two men who were on a suicide bombing mission. The Israeli police say the 10 kilogram bomb, which they had their car, was intercepted and safely diffused. They were heading for a nightclub in the northern town of Haifa, to explode it there. Rather like the discoteche in Tel Aviv a couple months ago, in which 20 Israelis were killed.

The Israeli police say they safely intercepted those two men who were under arrest, but still high alert in and around Israeli cities this morning. Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Jerrold Kessel live from Jerusalem. Thanks so much.

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