HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK ---------------------------
The following is a news item posted on CBC NEWS ONLINE at http://cbc.ca/news ____________________________________________________ ISRAEL MOVES IN ON ARAFAT'S COMPOUND http://cbc.ca/stories/2002/03/28/mideast_arafat020328 WebPosted Thu Mar 28 23:38:45 2002 JERUSALEM--Israel launched an attack against Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's headquarters early Friday and called out extra army reserves, as the region edged closer to the brink of all-out war. There were reports of a shootout between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian security officials inside the compound in Ramallah. Before the clash, Israeli tanks had rumbled right up to the main gates of Arafat's fortress in the centre of town, closer than they had been in any previous incursion. Late Thursday, Arafat had said that he is ready for an immediate, unconditional ceasefire with Israel. "I assert our readiness to implement an immediate ceasefire," Arafat told a news conference. Yasser Arafat The Palestinian leader said he had informed U.S. peace envoy Anthony Zinni, who is in the region trying to broker a truce, that he's ready for a ceasefire "without any conditions." But Arafat stopped short of actually declaring a truce. Before Friday's military offensive, Israeli government spokesman Raanan Gissin had said that words were not enough, and he demanded Arafat take action. "I'm going to see a glimmer of hope � when Arafat starts taking real action," Gissin said. "Declarations won't do." Early Friday, Israel's cabinet voted to call up army reserves to handle the recent increase in violent attacks against unarmed Jewish citizens. Palestinians have been fearing a tough response from the Israeli military since Wednesday, when a suicide bomber killed 20 people. Government buildings and schools were closed and stores were shuttered in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Thursday as Israeli tanks had moved towards the city. Palestinians lined up at checkpoints trying to get back to their houses in Jerusalem, fearing Ramallah would be sealed. Some roads in the West Bank and Gaza were blocked by tanks. There were also reports of another attack in the West Bank on Thursday. Medics and the Israeli army said Palestinian gunmen infiltrated a Jewish settlement near Nablus. At least four people were shot dead and several were wounded in the Nablus attack. In Beirut, meanwhile, an Arab summit ended Thursday with unanimous endorsement of a peace proposal. Arab leaders said they were making the offer as a challenge to Israel to return to the negotiating table. They said meaningful concessions could lead to unprecedented stability in the region. ____________________ Copyright � 2002 CBC All Rights Reserved http://cbc.ca/ ===== Lake Merritt Neighbors Organized for Peace. Weekly peace walks around Lake Merritt in Oakland. Starts & ends at the colonnade between Grand & Lakeshore Avenues, 3 P.M., every Sunday. Info: (510)763-8712, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> or http://www.webwm.com/LMNOP __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Greetings - send holiday greetings for Easter, Passover http://greetings.yahoo.com/ --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9617B Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
