Israeli Tanks Enter West Bank City, Fighting Erupts

19/04/2001| IslamWeb

JENIN, West Bank (Islamweb & News Agencies) - Israeli tanks rumbled into the heart of the Palestinian-ruled city of Jenin in the early hours of Wednesday, demolishing a Palestinian police headquarters and sparking gunbattles.
The Israeli invasion of Palestinian territory and a delay in convening truce talks between the sides underscored the obstacles in ending nearly a year of a Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation.
With the world's attention riveted on the United States after Tuesday's terror attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, working out a cease-fire in the Middle East appeared to have been pushed down the agenda.
``Under the cover of what is happening in New York, Israel is attacking Jenin and conducting its brutal crimes against the Palestinians,'' said Jamal al-Shati, a Palestinian lawmaker in Jenin.
Palestinian medics said at least four people were wounded in the exchanges of fire.
Residents said tanks entered the West Bank city from several different points with their lights turned off.
The tanks had encircled Jenin Tuesday in an operation which the occupation army said was intended to prevent Resistance bombers reaching Israel. In gunfights which ensued during the day two Palestinians were killed.
The occupation army has not said how long its operation in Jenin would last. Late Tuesday, Palestinian sources said Israeli tanks fired nearly a dozen shells at an empty building belonging to the Jenin governate.
PALESTINIANS SAY NO IMMEDIATE TALKS
Hopes that Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres would meet Tuesday faded as they failed to agree on a venue for talks on implementing a truce brokered by Washington in June but which never took hold.
Palestinian cabinet minister Nabil Shaath told reporters in Damascus the meeting would not go ahead until after Arafat visited Syria Wednesday. ''Talk about the Arafat-Peres meeting is postponed until the visit is completed,'' Shaath said. ``There has been no agreement so far on either a venue or a time for the meeting.''
Israel favors a meeting at the Erez border crossing with Gaza, which it regards as neutral ground. The Palestinians say it should take place in Egypt.
Even if Arafat and Peres do hold the first of at least three planned meetings, hopes are slim of a breakthrough to end 11 months of bloodshed that has killed more than 700 people.
PHOTO CAPTION:
An Israeli tank drives past the rubble of a Palestinian police post it destroyed during an Israeli troop incursion into Palestinian areas in Gaza, September 11, 2001. Israeli tanks rolled into the outskirts of the Palestinian-ruled city of Jenin and encircled it in an operation which the army said was intended to prevent suicide bombers reaching Israel. (Ahmed Jadallah/Reuters)