Israeli Cabinet Approves Retaliatory Operations Against Palestinians

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, May 09, 2002

Israeli Cabinet Approves Retaliatory Operations Against Palestinians

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

The Israeli security cabinet agreed late Wednesday night to take military action against Palestinian terrorist targets, in response to a deadly suicide attack on Tuesday night which killed 15 civilians in the coastal town of Rishon Letzion.

The cabinet has not unveiled any details about the operations, but said it had empowered Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Defense Minister Binyamin Ben Eliezer to make final decisions on the operations.

During a special meeting convened by Sharon after the bombing attack, Finance Minister Silvan Shalom raised the idea of exiling Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, but the issue has not yet been put to a vote.

The Israeli army has been amassing forces on the border with the Gaza Strip during the night, local reports said.

Earlier in the day, an Israeli government source said that Sharon would propose to the cabinet a "not too severe" military response to the attack, but not the expulsion of Arafat as speculated by local media.

Sources close to Sharon said U.S. President George W. Bush has agreed that peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians could be held only after Arafat leaves his current position.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Sharon Has No Right to Decide on Arafat's Fate: Mubarak

Arafat Holds Talks With Egyptian, Qatari, Turkish Leaders Over Phone

Suicide Bombing Kills 15, Wounds 40 in Israel's Coastal Town

>> Full Coverage

Carl Marx Still Remembered by Chinese ( 58 Messages)

Protests Prompt Retailer to Pull T-shirts Mocking Chinese-Americans ( 280 Messages)

Jiang Calls for Joint Efforts Towards Growth of Sino-US Ties ( 147 Messages)

Know Who to Love, Who to Hate ( 290 Messages)

"Washington Times" at Anti-China Tricks Again ( 103 Messages)

China's Economy to Grow Above Six Percent ( 71 Messages)

China's First Magnetic Suspension Test Track Built ( 53 Messages)

Harvard Project in China Violates Farmers' Rights ( 3 Messages)

Spirit of May 4 Movement Still Inspires Chinese Youth ( 25 Messages)