News

Israel breaks off talks with Palestinians

Israel broke off truce talks with the Palestinians Oct. 3, following an attack on the Jewish settlement of Elei Sinai by members of the militant Hamas

The unprecedented Oct. 2 raid on the settlement, which killed two Israelis and injured 15 others, sparked a heavy bombardment of Palestinian security offices in Gaza by Israeli tanks and helicopters. Four Palestinian police officers and two civilians were killed in the attack.

The violence exploded just hours after U.S. President George W. Bush backed the goal of a Palestinian state.

The two sides charged each other with violating a week-long truce that never fully took hold. Israeli Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said Israel is stopping talks with the Palestinians "until the Palestinian Authority has taken control and stops terrorism."

The Palestinian Authority denounced the attack by Hamas, calling it a violation of the cease-fire. But the Palestinians charged that Israel is carrying out a contradictory policy, calling on Palestinian police to arrest militants and then attacking the same police.

On Sept. 26, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres agreed on measures to bolster a fragile truce. The measures were rejected by hardline Palestinian groups.

In the following days some 20 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire and more than 200 injured

Shukan ST: Oct. 12, 2001

(C) All rights reserved