Israeli, Palestinian Security Officials Fail to Ease Tension in West Bank, Gaza Strip

Published October 26th, 2000 - 02:00 GMT
Al Bawaba
Al Bawaba

Israeli and Palestinian security officials failed to reach an agreement to ease tension in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, reported Reuters. 

The meetings were "very disappointing", and the "Israeli side does not expect much to come out of them," an Israeli military official said.  

Soon after the meetings, sporadic episodes of Palestinian shooting at Israeli soldiers were reported in the West Bank areas of Bethlehem, Nablus and Beit Jalla, said Reuters.  

A bus travelling in the Jewish area of Gilo in southern Jerusalem was hit by Palestinian gunfire but there were no injuries reported, an Israeli military source said, according to AFP. 

Israeli tanks retaliated with shells and machine-gun fire on Beit Jala and the neighboring Aida refugee camp, witnesses said. 

The army said it had retaliated with machinegun fire towards the source of the firing in Beit Jala. 

The army also fired a shell on the village of Beit Sahur in the Bethlehem area, damaging one house, following an exchange of fire between armed Palestinians and Israeli soldiers, witnesses told AFP. 

In the West Bank city of Hebron, clashes were reported in the evening, according to a press release published by Addameer web site. 

In the old city of Hebron, a number of Palestinian residents were evacuated by the Israeli military and their homes used as new military outposts 

In the Gaza Strip, clashes erupted afternoon in Rafah, Khan Younis, Beit Hanoun, and Deir al Balah, said Addameer.  

Armed confrontations also erupted Wednesday evening at the two entrances to Tulkarem city, said the press release.  

The college of Khadoureh at the entrance of Tulkarem was attacked by heavy Israeli machine gun fire - (Several Sources)  

 

 

 

 

 

© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

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