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Israelis Kill 8 Palestinians in a Day of Widespread Uproar
Israeli helicopter gunships struck at Palestinian targets in the West Bank after a day of surging violence in which Israeli soldiers shot and killed eight Palestinians and wounded dozens in raging street battles.
The helicopter missile strikes early today (November 16) came after a meeting of Prime Minister Ehud Barak's security cabinet. Mr. Barak had been under pressure to order a tough military response to the Palestinian killing of four Israelis on Monday.
More than 220 people, most Palestinians, have been killed in a Palestinian uprising now in its seventh week. Palestinians say the violence will continue until Israel withdraws from the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The Israeli Army said that after midnight, helicopters attacked offices of the Fatah movement in Hebron, Tulkarm and Salfit, and a munitions base of the Palestinian security forces in Jericho. Gunmen from Fatah, the mainstream Palestinian political faction, have been at the forefront of the uprising, shooting at soldiers and Jewish settlements.
In Hebron, witnesses said helicopters fired at least three missiles at empty buildings of the local Fatah headquarters, starting fires and shattering windows. Reports from Salfit indicated that there were several casualties.
Israeli helicopters also hit buildings in Beit Jala after shots were fired from the town at the Jewish neighborhood of Gilo in southern Jerusalem. In addition, Israeli soldiers fired back with machine guns. Palestinians reported from Beit Jala that a German resident married to a local woman was killed by shrapnel as he tried to help wounded neighbors. Seven people were wounded by Israeli fire and two buildings were destroyed, the Palestinians said.
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