A successful ambush by the Palestinian resistance forces killed 13 Israeli soldiers in Jenin refugee camp on Tuesday morning. Suicide bombers were also apparently involved in this operation.
This was the Israeli army's single biggest loss of life since the start of the Palestinian uprising some 18 months ago. Seven other soldiers were hurt in the clashes, one seriously, one moderately and the rest lightly, said a statement by the Israeli army.
Eleven more soldiers were lightly wounded in the camp Tuesday evening, Israel Radio reported.
Palestinian Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo said Tuesday the Israeli army was attacking the camp with helicopters and knocking down buildings with bulldozers to "finish this camp by tonight".
It was reported that huge amount of destruction was caused in the camp, and that the bodies of dozens of dead Palestinians were strewn in the streets. It is estimated that over 150 Palestinians killed in the camp. Israeli helicopter gunships fired missiles into the camp on Monday in an attempt to kill Palestinian fighters.
Tuesday was the third day of fierce clashes between Israeli troops and Palestinian fighters in the refugee camp. Dozens of fighters were still holding a number of buildings in the camp. The Israeli army has deployed a large number of troops and intense firepower in an effort to break the Palestinian resistance, but with no success.
For his part, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon vowed that Israel would fight the Palestinians to the “finish.” "This battle is a battle for the survival of the Jewish people and the state of Israel," public radio quoted Sharon saying. But Sharon expressed opposition to the expected Powell-Arafat meeting, saying it would be a "tragic mistake." U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said earlier he intended to meet Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat later this week."
Four Israeli soldiers were lightly wounded in the Nablus area Tuesday evening when armored personnel carrier drove over a roadside bomb, the Israeli army said. Earlier, an Israeli officer was shot dead in Nablus.
In Dura, south of Hebron, a second officer was seriously wounded after Israeli forces stormed into the village. At least three Palestinians were killed in Dura. Eyewitnesses reported tanks and armored vehicles moved into the village under the cover of aircraft hovering in the sky. A building used by Force 17 was completely estroyed.
Two of the Palestinians were identified as Shahin Mahmoud and Omran Flifel, were killed during the incursion. Eye-witnesses reported that Flifel, a cab driver, was killed while he was driving.
In Bethlehem, a standoff between Israeli troops and around 200 Palestinian gunmen holed up in the Church of the Nativity, one of Christianity's holiest sites, went into a second week.
Elsewhere, three Israeli tanks and a bulldozer moved into Palestinian-controlled territory in the Gaza Strip Tuesday and began demolishing a Palestinian security post and olive and orange trees, witnesses said.
The area in Deir el-Balah, south of Gaza City, has been the site of several mortar attacks on Israeli troops in recent days.
Some heavy machine gun fire was heard as the tanks and the bulldozer moved about 700 yards into the orchard area near the Jewish settlement of Kisufim and began demolishing the trees and the guard post, witnesses said. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
