Al-Aqsa uprising continues, Palestinian killings toll 69
Palestine-Israel, Politics, 10/5/2000

Amid threats launched by the Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak to increase killing and oppression operations against the Palestinians and similar threats made by Israeli military leaders, in its 7th day, the al-Aqsa uprising recorded more bloody confrontation and resulted in killing or wounding tens of new Palestinians. The Israeli forces said it used planes in its attacks and that it had also reinforced its positions in the territories of 1948.

News reports said that a child was killed in Gaza on Wednesday after he was shot in his chest in the confrontation that took place near Natsareim settlement while a Palestinian youth was killed by the fire of an Israeli helicopter near the same settlement. Two Palestinian policemen were killed and other seven wounded in the confrontation took place near Betonia settlement in Ramullah and young man Alaa Jaber was killed in al-Beira and therefore number of al-Aqsa uprising martyrs tolled 69 and number of the wounded reached 1200, according to Palestinian sources.

News reports said that Wednesday's confrontation extended from Gaza strip to Jerusalem and Ramullah, Nablus, Bethlehem and to the Jordan valley and in the territories of 1948 confrontation continued in al-Ramleh, al-Lid, al-Faradis, Ara and in the villages of al-Jalil triangle and al-Nasera city.

An Israeli military spokesman admitted that some 139 Israeli policemen and soldiers were wounded. He added that the Israeli forces arrested more than 300 Palestinians.

The reports said the occupation forces intensified detention operations of the Palestinians in Jerusalem, the neighboring al-Sawahera and Jabal al-Mukabber where the Israeli soldiers brutally hit a press photographer who was following up the bloody events took place during a funeral procession of a Palestinian martyr.

The director of the emergency department at the Red Crescent hospital in Nablus Dr. Wael Qaadan said that " most of the killed or wounded were hit by explosive bombs and Lao missiles."

Meantime the commander of the Israeli forces in the Gaza strip threatened to use heavy artillery against the Palestinians if they will gather near Natsareim settlement.

In Paris a source accompanying the Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak said that Israel refused the formation of an international committee to investigate in the incidents of the Intifada and the falling victims as a result, adding that Israel wants from the Palestinian government to oppress and halt all acts of resistance.

In Paris also the US secretary of State Madeleine Albright on Wednesday held a meeting with Arafat and another meeting with Barak in order to halt the confrontation.

Following her meeting with Barak, Albright said she will ask the Palestinian government to impose its authority on the course of events because what is taking place falls under the will of " gangs" as she claimed.

For his part, Barak held the Palestinian government responsible for what is taking place and asked it to suppress the demonstrators as a precondition to continue any negotiations.

Arafat asked following his meeting with the French President Jacques Chirac to form an international committee to investigate the Israeli crimes and international guarantees to protect the Palestinian civilians and he held Israel and Barak's government responsible for the incidents.

Previous Stories:
  Israeli government refuses an international investigation and Sahron denounces U.S criticism   (10/4/2000)
  Arab states request emergency meeting of UN human rights commission   (10/4/2000)
  Arab committee for supporting Jerusalem calls for end of Israeli terrorism   (10/4/2000)

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