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Israel Launches Massive Attack, 

Invades Ramallah, Bombards Nablus, Gaza Strip 

 

by Mark James, Middle East News Online Reporter

 

 

Middle East News Online, 13 December 2001

Centre for Research on Globalisation (CRG),  globalresearch.ca,  15 December 2001

 

GAZA CITY, Palestine (NEWSWIRE) - The latest attack on Israeli soldiers and settlers near a Nablus Jewish settlement seemed to be the Israeli passport to carry out a massive attack on Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Palestinians here say that Israel might be planning a long term invasion. Although Israel is not saying much regarding the goal of its operations in the occupied territories, the dramatic events currently taking place in the West Bank and Gaza show that a major Israeli operation is underway.

Reports coming from the West Bank town of Ramallah indicate that Israel is moving toward a full invasion of the city. Most alarmingly, Israeli troops have now reached and occupied Palestinian president Yasser Arafat's headquarters; and have entered the Voice of Palestine Radio station.

The major Israeli army assault came only hours after Palestinian gunmen attacked a bus carrying Israeli Jewish settlers near a Jewish settlement built illegally in the West Bank. The attack killed 10 people and wounded 30.

Arafat, fearing Israeli retaliation condemned the attacks and ordered a complete shut down of all institutions belonging to Hamas and the Islamic Jihad.

The United States said that the decision was positive but not enough.

Israeli sources say that Arafat is now prohibited from departing the city of Ramallah, and said that Israeli forces are conducting operations in the city, but didn't specify the nature of these operations.

Israeli tanks now stand 150 feet away from Arafat's headquarters.

The invasion was preceded by intense bombing by apache helicopters of Force 17 buildings.

Seven Palestinians were wounded in the attacks, and a Palestinian woman is said to have died from fright.

Other Palestinian cities in the West Bank were also heavily bombarded including the city of Nablus.

The situation in Gaza is also worsening; Israeli F 16 have bombed the Gaza Strip area for hours and have turned dozens of buildings and houses into rubble.

These developments followed an earlier Israeli decision to cut all ties and communications with Arafat saying that he is personally responsible for the attack against the Israeli settlers.

Palestinian official Yasser Abed Rabbo urged the United States to interfere to stop the Israeli aggression, saying that Israel have killed more than 13 Palestinians in the last 48 hours alone, without any protest from the Untied States.


� 2001 Middle East News. Reprinted for fair use only.


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