This came in an hour ago. When I asked Ernst Zundel what it might mean, he said:
"One thing the Arabs have the Israelis do not have is people. People willing to die."
I offer it to you without further comment.
ISRAEL STRIKES, PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY DECLARES WAR
Middle East NewsLine -Thursday, October 12, 2000 - RAMALLAH " Israeli attack helicopters struck Palestinian targets in the West Bank and the Palestinian Authority has declared war.
Palestinian Authority officials said that hours after four Israeli soldiers were killed by a Palestinian mob in Ramallah Israeli attack helicopters struck targets in Gaza. They said the police headquarters in Gaza City near the office of PA chairman Yasser Arafat was leveled.
Arafat's private home in Gaza was also struck, witnesses said.
PA officials said Arafat has declared war on Israel. At 1550 hours local time [0850 hours EST] PA radio issued a communique that declared war on Israel and called on the Arab and international community to help the Palestinians.
PA officials said helicopters also flew over the Arafat's headquarters in Gaza as he was meeting with CIA director George Tenet. Tenet had arrived to restore security cooperation between Israel and the PA.
In Ramallah, witnesses said Cobra helicopters targeted PA security installations in the West Bank city some four hours after the Israeli soldiers were killed. The main target appeared to be the police station where the Israeli soldiers were stabbed and beaten to death by a mob.
Arafat's headquarters in Ramallah was also targeted, witnesses said.
PA radio said five Palestinians were injured in the Israeli attack. The radio urged Palestinians to stay off the streets.
Earlier, PA officials denied reports that Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Shaul Mofaz had warned PA commanders that an attack was imminent on security installations in Ramallah.
Witnesses said PA radio in Ramallah was also struck.
PALESTINIANS RIDICULE ISRAELI THREAT; ARAFAT FACES INTERNAL DIVISIONS
Middle East Newsline - October 12, 2000 - RAMALLAH " The Palestinian Authority has dismissed Israeli threats to launch a military offensive as officials appear divided over their next step in the confrontation against Israel.
PA officials ridiculed the Israeli Cabinet's decision to delay an ultimatum issued by Prime Minister Ehud Barak. The officials said that despite his tough rhetoric Barak is being deterred by Arab and Palestinian retaliation as well as international sanctions.
"It's very strange you know when somebody tells you 'If you don't become my partner in 24 hours I will kill you,'" PA International Cooperation Minister Nabil Shaath said. "You expect the Palestinians to be intimidated. We want peace with Israelis. But that peace can't come through intimidation."
The PA dismissal of Israeli threats come as a dispute has arisen within the Palestinian leadership. Palestinian sources said the dispute concerns the next step in the confrontation against Israel.
Some PA officials want the Palestinians to declare a state unilaterally as they intensify the violence in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The officials are urging PA Chairman Yasser Arafat that virtually the entire international community, with the exception of the United States, would recognize the state.
PA security chief Mohammed Dahlan said Palestinian security cooperation with Israel is dead. Dahlan told a Gaza news conference on Monday that the PA would continue its resistance against Israel regardless of the price in casualties.
"We know that we will pay a price for this resistance in martyrs and injured," Dahlan said.
Over the weekend, Arafat's Fatah party issued a communique calling for an increase in attacks against Israel. The communique was said to have angered PA officials who said the communique was not coordinated with the Palestinian leadership.
PA officials said they don't rule out renewed talks with Israel. But they said the PA would not stop Palestinian violence against Israel and called for attacks on Jewish settlers.
"Every Jewish settler equals a terrorist target," PA minister Hassan Asfour said.
On Tuesday, about 200 Fatah gunmen marched through the West Bank city of Nablus. The gunmen pledged to attack Jewish settlers.
Overnight, Israeli and Palestinian gunmen exchanged fire throughout the West Bank. Firefights were reported in Gaza, Hebron, Bethlehem, Ramallah, Nablus and Kalkilya. Palestinian sources said four Palestinians were killed and 100 were injured over the last 36 hours.
Officials said the PA has embraced the Islamic opposition. On Sunday night, the PA Cabinet convened an emergency session attended by representatives of Hamas and Islamic Jihad. This, as the PA released seven more Hamas detainees.
"It was agreed during the meetings to discuss sufficient means to raise the uprising level and to confront the challenges," Hamas spokesman Ismail Abu Shanab said.
(Courtesy of MiD-EasT RealitieS - www.MiddleEast.Org Phone: 202 362-5266 Fax: 815 366-0800 Email: MER@MiddleEast.Org
To subscriibe email to MERLIST@MiddleEast.Org with subject SUBSCRIBE
To unsubscribe email to MERLIST@MiddleEast.Org with subject UNSUBSCRIBE
To receive MER regularly email to INFOMER@MiddleEast.Org
=====
Thought for the Day:
"It was suffering and incapacity that created all afterworlds."
(Friedrich Nietzsche)