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CNN Sunday Morning

Palestinians, Israel Take Action Against Hamas, Islamic Jihad

Aired December 16, 2001 - 07:17   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: Moving on now to the Mideast today. The Palestinian Authority says that it is shutting down the offices of two groups who claimed responsibility for recent suicide bomb attacks on Israel.

Palestinian security forces worked through night shutting down offices belonging to Hamas and the Islamic Jihad. So far, 29 offices have been closed in the West Bank and 13 in Gaza. This happened as an Israeli helicopter fired missiles at a Palestinian police station located in a Gaza refugee camp. No word yet on the casualties.

Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat says the raids on Hamas and Islamic Jihad offices are a part of his promised crackdown on terrorists. Later today, Arafat is to give what's expected to be a strongly worded speech, calling for an end to the armed conflict with Israel. CNN will carry out that speech live at 11:00 a.m. Eastern.

Arafat does have a lot at stake and his speech today could provide important guidance on any future peace talks. For more on this, let's go to CNN's Jerrold Kessel, who's live now from Jerusalem -- Jerrold.

JERROLD KESSEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, the escalating situation is what we have both in terms of rhetoric and on the ground in terms of actions. And that escalation is at least for now curtailed the would-be mediation mission of the United States led by retired Marine general Anthony Zinni.

And that has left the two sides eying each other with even greater suspicion than ever as we see two processes taking shape -- Yasser Arafat's -- disputed moves by Yasser Arafat against the radical Islamic groups and parallel to that, very intensive moves by the Israeli military against those same radical Islamic groups. And as these moves take shape, with this anticipation of this speech by Mr. Arafat, a major policy address that's being billed to his people on the pressures on him and on his Palestinian Authority.

This morning, Mr. Arafat took part in prayers marking the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr. That's the -- that comes at the end of the conclusion of the Ramadan holy month. And Mr. Arafat was striking at defiant pros as he spoke afterwards of his anticipation of things to come.

He said that Israel is insisting on pushing out a way from our holy places. And the day, he added, will certainly come when a small Palestinian child will yet raise our flag over Jerusalem.

Well, as you report, Mr. Arafat's forces have been action against the Islamic radical groups. Well, he has been, of course, under intense pressure to curb those radicals, who, in a series of deadly actions over the past month, have killed more than 40 Israelis. And Israel's foreign minister Shimon Peres, who, this morning, was marking the Jewish festival of Chanukah, still expressed reservations about just how far Yasser Arafat will go and he wants to wait and see, says Mr. Peres of whether Mr. Arafat will really reshape his strategy in curtailing the militants.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHIMON PERES, ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER: Until now, Hamas is taking over from the hands of the bureau. They are grounds to decide our agenda. They are grounds to decide what should be done or who should be killed. And I think it is for Palestinian Authority to assert itself as the responsible authority.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KESSEL: No casualties reported in the latest Israeli air action against the Palestinian police positions in the northern part of Gaza, that Israeli troops killed at least 13 Palestinians in a series of actions since Friday and have detained more than 60 suspected militants in a two day sweep both in Gaza and the West Bank. And all these issues likely to be addressed by Yasser Arafat in his address to the Palestinian people later today -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, our Jerrold Kessel live from Jerusalem. Thanks so much.

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