Israel Strikes Palestinian Security Posts
Israeli forces fired on Palestinian security buildings in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and three Palestinians were killed Saturday in two other shooting incidents.
Early today, Israeli tanks began shelling security positions in the West Bank city of Ramallah. There was no word on casualties.
On Saturday, Israel carried out missile strikes on security positions in the Gaza Strip, and Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat said the attacks were part of an Israeli effort to scuttle plans for truce talks.
Israel’s military cited two reasons for the missile raids: a Palestinian attack Friday that wounded two Israeli border policemen, and Israel’s belief that the security buildings were being used to train and arm militants.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has been reluctant to sanction truce talks at present, saying Arafat must first crack down on Palestinian militants.
The United States wants truce talks to calm tensions in the Middle East, but Sharon reportedly rejected a request Friday from President Bush to go ahead with a meeting planned for today.
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