Truce Falters, Israel and Palestinians Trade Blame

24/04/2001| IslamWeb

JERUSALEM (Islamweb & News Agencies) - Israeli occupation troops shot dead three Palestinians on Sunday as Israel said it was giving the Palestinians at least another 48 hours to fulfil a faltering cease-fire pact which has failed to stem a year of bloodshed. (Read photo caption below)There was no tangible progress as Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres met senior Palestinian negotiators to try to extend the life of the truce, renewed under pressure from the United States as it tries to bind Muslim countries into a coalition against terrorism after the September 11 attacks.
In Cairo, Arafat accused the Israeli army of intensifying violence in which troops have killed at least 17 Palestinians since he and Peres reaffirmed the fragile truce on Wednesday.
Israel's inner cabinet had already decided overnight to keep easing its clampdown on Palestinian areas for at least another 48 hours to allow the Palestinians to fulfil the terms of the truce, including arresting militants, Israeli officials said.
After Sunday's brief bilateral talks, Israeli security sources said the sides had ``reviewed the situation on the ground'' and resolved to meet again, though he did not say when.
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat told Reuters:
``It was a difficult meeting. We presented to the Israeli side a list of Israeli aggressions since President Arafat met Shimon Peres in Gaza (last Wednesday)...The Palestinians are committed (to the cease-fire) and the Israelis are not.''
Hours later, three Israeli tanks rumbled some 700 meters into Palestinian-ruled territory in the southern Gaza Strip, firing their machineguns at the village of Al-Qarara, Palestinian security sources said.
The incursion closely followed Israeli occupation army reports that Palestinians had fired two mortar shells -- which injured no one -- at Jewish settlements in the area.
The Palestinian security sources said tanks were also shelling the nearby refugee camp of Deir al-Balah and that gunfire was being directed at the village of Al-Zakhra.
Sunday was the fourth day of clashes between Israeli occupation troops and Palestinian Resistance men and stonethrowers in the West Bank and Gaza Strip as Palestinians marked the anniversary of the revolt against Israeli occupation that erupted on September 28, 2000.
In an apparent effort to enforce the truce, Palestinian police used tear gas to disperse youths on their way to stone troops at Karni in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian witnesses said.
PHOTO CAPTION:
Palestinian woman and girls look at an Israeli soldier aiming his gun at Palestinians during clashes between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian stone throwers in the West Bank city of Hebron September 30, 2001. Israel said it was giving the Palestinians another 48 hours to fulfil their side of a cease-fire agreement which has failed to stem a year of bloodshed since the sides re-endorsed it four days ago. (Nayef Hashlamoun/Reuters)