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CNN Live Sunday

Israel Defends Use of War Planes Against Palestinians

Aired May 20, 2001 - 16:17   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.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: In the face of international criticism and in some cases condemnation, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is holding firm to his decision to use war planes against Palestinian targets. He's even threatening greater force to protect Israelis from terrorists. At the same time, Arab nations may be rallying around the Palestinians.

CNN's Sheila MacVicar has the latest from Jerusalem.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SHEILA MACVICAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Under pressure and increasingly internationally isolated, Israel's prime minister is defiant. At a meeting of his cabinet, Ariel Sharon pointedly thanked Israel's air force for its contribution to Israeli security and called for cabinet's solidarity.

"Because we are talking about a continuous battle that is being forced on us," he said, "Our ability to stand fast depends on the people sitting here."

But with the strongest statement yet from the Arab League, Israel's decision to use F-16 airplanes has handed Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat a public relations and diplomatic triumph.

"Our Arab brothers have presented a strong and clear stand with us," he said, "The Palestinians people will not kneel down in front of war planes or tanks or armored vehicles."

In the face of international condemnation, Israel is now trying to explain why F-16s have been put into action.

MAJOR GENERAL GIORA EILAND, ISRAELI DEFENSE FORCES: It was a tactical decision, simply because the targets were big enough or strong enough or solid enough that attack helicopters were considered not as effective enough to penetrate, or to hit these specific targets.

MACVICAR: Israel says the raids were not only in response to Friday shopping mall bombing in Netanya. The Israelis say that in the last three months alone, there have been 28 bombings or attempted bombings, all of them, they say, aimed at civilians.

Israelis opened their Sunday newspapers to find that Mr. Sharon has threatened further escalation, saying he will use all of Israel's military might against the Palestinians to protect the Israelis, but Israeli newspaper are scathing, saying the decision to use war planes on Friday night was, quote: "Worthless, stupid, a policy of weakness and frustration, one that could lead to greater conflict."

CHEMI SHALEV, ISRAELI POLITICAL ANALYST: It brings the region closer, I think, to the danger of an outbreak of hostilities all over.

MACVICAR (on camera): With the peace process close to dead, Israel is now under increasing pressure to accept the report of the fact-finding Mitchell committee. That reports calls for an end to all violence, and demands that Israel stop enlarging settlements on occupied territory, something Israel has said it will not now do.

Sheila MacVicar, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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