By: The Michigan Daily
Published December 12th, 2001
JERUSALEM (AP) Israeli helicopters hit Palestinian targets in a Gaza refugee camp last night, killing three and wounding 20, witnesses said. The attack came hours after a U.S. mediator opened a new round of cease-fire talks.
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JERUSALEM (AP) Israeli helicopters hit Palestinian targets in a Gaza refugee camp last night, killing three and wounding 20, witnesses said. The attack came hours after a U.S. mediator opened a new round of cease-fire talks.
European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana, meanwhile, joined the U.S. diplomatic effort, meeting Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in Jerusalem and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in the West Bank town of Ramallah.
A day earlier the EU toughened its stance on Palestinian militants, branding the radical groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad "terrorist networks" and demanding that Arafat dismantle them. A series of Hamas suicide bombings last week killed 26 people.
U.S. peace envoy Anthony Zinni hosted the third meeting of Israeli and Palestinian security officials since the bombings with both sides giving opposing views of the outcome.
A Palestinian official said there was no real progress in the Zinni talks and complained that Israel"s continuing attacks were sabotaging international peace efforts. The official said Solana promised to do all he could to stop the reprisals.
In a statement, Sharon"s office said Israel would continue targeted killings of suspected Palestinian militants, while other Israeli officials described the Zinni meeting as positive.
The Israelis also said Zinni would remain in the region at the request of both sides. He had threatened to end his mission if there was not serious progress toward a cease-fire.
The helicopter attack last night was the second in Gaza in a day. Witnesses said the helicopters hit twice, targeting buildings in the Khan Younis refugee camp. One was used by the radical Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. The other was a police facility.
The PFLP claimed responsibility for the assassination of Israeli Cabinet Minister Rehavam Zeevi in October and said the attack was retaliation for Israel"s killing of PFLP leader Mustafa Zibri.
The Israeli military said the attack targeted a Palestinians who were firing at an Israeli army base.
