Israel readies to respond, Iraqi missile attack ruled out
Palestine, Politics, 12/17/1998

Torn between their newly-established honeymoon with the US Administration and their solemn support for the Iraqi people, Palestinians took to the streets in a number of West Bank towns and cities to protest the US and British air strikes on Iraq.

But Palestinian officials were more careful in their reaction to the attack calling on both parties to respect the UN resolutions and demanding of the US and Britain to stop the attack immediately. Palestinian President Yasser Arafat received a letter from President Clinton on the latest developments but the Palestinian News Agency, WAFA, which gave no further details on the content of the letter. Palestinian sources said the letter explained the reasons why the US had to attack Iraq and reiterated US over Israel's decision to delay the implementation of the second phase withdrawal of its troops in the West Bank. Chief negotiator Dr. Saeb Erekat told a number of journalists in Ramallah that the US and the UK "should stop their aggression" on Iraq, which, he said, should abide by the UN resolutions. "Only through peaceful means that this conflict can come to a final settlement. We call for the immediate cessation of the attacks on Iraq and to exert more diplomatic effort to solve the crisis," said Dr. Erekat.

PNA cabinet secretary Ahmed Abdul Rahman, meanwhile, called on the Arab countries to adopt a pan-Arab stand to stop this attack and to avoid all their side differences with Iraq arguing that the current attack on Iraq cannot be justified. Abdul Rahman called for convening an Arab summit immediately so that both Britain and the US understand that the Arab world is opposed to their attack on Iraq.

On the Israeli side, prime minister Benyamin Netanyahu said Israel is not involved in the current showdown in the Gulf but noted that his army would preserve the right to react if attacked by Iraq. The Israeli public, however, was asked to take precaution measures in case Iraq decides to launch missile attacks on Israel. The public was called on to get supplies, nylon sheets, masking tape and first aid kits as well as checking their gas masks. The Israeli army deployed a number of anti-missile Patriot missile batteries in what were described as strategic sites that are potential targets for an incoming Iraqi missile attack on Israel.

The whole atmosphere sounded like a reminiscence of what happened seven years ago with Israeli television channels hosting a cluster of experts and analysts to speak on the outcome of the renewed hostilities in the Gulf. Throughout the whole of Thursday, senior army officials, cabinet ministers and officials of the medical institutions in the country met to evaluate the situation and to take extra measures to meet unexpected developments.

Israeli official spokesmen said they are getting ready for whatever developments take place and insisted, in the words of Netanyahu's political planning advisor David Bar Ilan, that Israel would reserve the right to self-defense. The leader of the opposition Labor Party, Ehud Barak, said that the repercussions of a totally collapsed peace with the Palestinians would bring more detrimental results to Israel's strategic interests than a limited attack that may not take place by Iraq on Israel.

"The Israeli army is capable of preparing itself for any possibility of attack with the Arrow missile and American systems," said Avi Benayahu, the Defense Ministry spokesman. Israel, military sources said, expects to remain out of the current conflict. But brigadier general Amos Gilad, head of the Research Division in the military intelligence branch, said that if Saddam Hussein felt in mortal danger he might act out of despair and aim missiles at Israel. "There is not much chance, however, that such a thing will happen," he added.

Britain and the US used some 300 missiles in the first volley of attacks on what were described as military and strategic installations around Baghdad. US spy satellites on Thursday collected pictures of the hit targets. US military officers are expected to evaluate the outcome of the attack on Iraq in order to decide on their future move.

President Clinton told the nation one hour after the start of the air strikes that the aim of the attack was to hit Iraq's nuclear weapons manufacturing installations as well as factories for biological and chemical weapons. Pentagon officials stated that the US wanted to complete the attack before the start of the holy month of Ramadan in Islam tomorrow, Saturday. President Clinton himself claimed that the timing of the attack took into consideration the start of the holy month of Ramadan and said the US did not want to harm the feelings of the Islamic world. End.

Previous Stories:
  Palestinian official not to take part in committee on releasing prisoners   (12/17/1998)
  Netanyahu paves the way to early elections   (12/16/1998)
  Palestinians warn: we won't implement Wye unilaterally   (12/16/1998)

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