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Israel to Intensify Reactions to Palestinian Attacks: Adviser
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will intensify its reactions to Palestinian gunmen if they do not stop shootings against the southern Jerusalem neighborhood of Gilo, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak's tope security aide Danny Yatom warned Tuesday.
In an interview with Israel Radio, Yatom said the Israeli government will not tolerate "those who kept firing on a quarter in Israel's capital."
The neighborhood recently became the hottest flash point between Israel and the Palestinians in the bloody clashes between the two sides in the West Bank and Gaza Strip for the past three and a half weeks.
Gilo, which lies on the border with the West Bank city of Bethlehem, was annexed by Israel after the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians insist that it should be regarded as part of the occupied territories.
In the past few days, Palestinian gunmen had fired bullets at buildings on different streets in Gilo, which damaged at least 30 apartments and wounded two Israelis.
In response, Israel helicopter gunships fired missiles against the nearby Palestinian town of Beit Jala, which the IDF claimed had been the sources of the attacks against Gilo.
The Israeli tanks near the area also fired shells against Beit Jala. The IDF also encircled the Palestinian town to prevent Palestinian gunmen from entering.
Dozens of Palestinians had been wounded in the retaliation attacks.
Israel Radio reported Tuesday noon that the Palestinian police had informed the IDF that they will prevent the gunmen from firing on Gilo, and may even impose a curfew on the village to stop the attacks.
But the Palestinians also urged the Israeli army to restrain from firing missiles and shells against targets in Beit Jala.
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