Radio Islam´s News
Agency
Israel bracing for a possible
guerrilla war with Palestinian fighters
JERUSALEM (Sept. 16/1997) XINHUA - Israeli army is bracing for a
possible guerrilla war with Palestinian fighters that could be
triggered by the deterioration in the political situation, Israel
Radio reported today.
The report quoted military sources as saying that the army has
prepared operational plans, and regular and reserve units are
receiving special training to be ready for future
skirmishes.
Based on the lesson learned from the bloodshed last September,
special police units have been set up and special protective
equipments have been purchased, the report added.
The sources warned of an outbreak of guerrilla warfare and an
escalation in the uses of weapons in the Palestinian territories if
the current deadlock in the peace process continues and mistrust
between Israel and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA)
increases.
They added that the PNA has also beefed up their security forces
and is maintaining a state of alert, fearing that Israeli security
forces might enter Palestinian self-rule areas to capture so-called
terrorists.
Palestinian residents in the territories have been instructed how
to respond to Israeli troops if they reenter the Palestinian
cities.
Following the July 30 twin suicide bombings in Jerusalem's Mahane
Yehuda market launched by the Islamic Resistant Movement (Hamas),
Israeli Cabinet approved sending troops into Palestinian areas to
capture Islamic militants.
Since the September 4 triple bombings in Jerusalem's Ben Yehuda
mall, Israel has carried out a sweep of Hamas activists in areas
under its control, nabbing about 250 of them.
The recent visit by United States Secretary of State Madeleine
Albright here failed to break the prolonged deadlock in the peace
process. Although Israel took some good-will gestures by releasing
more frozen tax revenues and easing the internal closure of the
territories, the general closure remains in effect.
And in a provocative step, three Jewish settler families moved
Sunday night into two houses in East Jerusalem's Ras Amud Arab
neighborhood, sparking strong Palestinian protests and
rioting.
Due to the sensitivity of the Jerusalem issue, the latest incident
could trigger widespread Palestinian violence that will threaten to
scuttle the moribund peace process.
Source: Xinhua
