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CNN Saturday Morning News

Violence Again Breaks Out in Mideast

Aired August 25, 2001 - 08:35   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.
JEFF FLOCK, CNN ANCHOR: More bloodshed in the Middle East today, where a radical Palestinian group is claiming responsibility for an assault on Israeli soldiers in Gaza.

CNN's Ben Wedeman there now, live, in Jerusalem with the details.

Ben, hello.

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Jeff. Three Israeli soldiers and two Palestinians were killed in a predawn raid on an Israeli military outpost in the southern Gaza strip. The Palestinians, reportedly members of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine. They infiltrated into this outpost, attacked the Israeli soldiers with machine guns and hand grenades, and at one point during the fight, according to Israeli officials, they were engaged in hand to hand combat.

Now, of course, seven -- also, seven Israeli soldiers were injured in the attack. The attack of course has raised tensions even further in the Gaza strip. We are hearing reports that the Palestinian Authority has evacuated all its buildings and facilities in anticipation of an Israeli response. We spoke to the Israeli communications minister earlier today, who put the blame for the attack squarely on the Palestinian Authority and it's leader, Yasser Arafat.

Now, also, meanwhile on the West Bank overnight there were a series of clashes, one outside the Palestinian village of Beit Sahour, which is near Bethlehem. That apparently took place, according to the Palestinians, when Israeli jeeps and troops tried to enter the village, which is under exclusive Palestinian control.

Also, further to the south of there in Hebron, there were more overnight gun battles there, Jeff.

FLOCK: Ben Wedeman with a difficult assignment in the Middle East. Could be a tough day.

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