Israel Destroys Buildings Near Flashpoint in GazaIsraeli army early Sunday blew up two apartment buildings overlooking the Netzarim juncture in Gaza, which has been a major flashpoint in the recent clashes between Palestinians and Israel.There were no immediate reports of casualties. The two multi-story buildings, called the Twin Towers, had been used by Palestinian stone-throwers and gunmen as firing points to target the Israeli outposts below, which guard an isolated Jewish settlement. The Israeli army also demolished a nearby factory and cleared the area around the outposts to prevent further Palestinian attacks. The Israeli military warned the Palestinians in a statement that "any firing from a position on settlements or Israeli military forces turns (the position) into a target for attack or destruction." The operation came just hours after Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak delivered an ultimatum overnight, warning that Israel might give its military a free hand to end the violence if Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat fails to halt it in 48 hours. In another development, Barak has ordered to shut Gaza airport, except to Arafat's plane, shortly after an Israeli bus was attacked by unidentified gunmen Saturday night in the Arab town of Rafah in southern Gaza near the Egyptian border, in which eight people were injured. |
| People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/ |