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| Israel-Palestine |
| Israeli Troops Pulling Out of Rafah Camp |
| 2004-05-21 |
| Israeli troops and tanks began pulling out of the Rafah refugee camp at daybreak Friday, residents said, after a three-day sweep that left 39 Palestinians dead and drew international criticism. Israeli military sources confirmed that soldiers were "redeploying" after the operation in the camp, but they said that in principle, the search for weapons-smuggling tunnels under the border would continue. But Palestinian security officials said Israeli snipers continued to control buildings, and attack helicopters were in the sky. Doctors said that relief convoys could not yet enter the camp. Palestinians said most of the Israeli tanks had left the Tel Sultan neighborhood, the focus of the operation, and others were pulling out of the Brazil section next to the Gaza-Egypt border. As the tanks trundled out, hundreds of residents rushed into the streets to inspect the damage caused during the Israeli operation. But Israeli forces opened fire, and leaders urged people to remain indoors, a local doctor said. Tanks were also pulling out of the section next to the Gaza-Egypt border, residents and Palestinian security officials said. As recently as Wednesday, Israeli leaders insisted that the operation in the Rafah refugee camp in southern Gaza would continue. However, withering international criticism may have had an effect on the Israeli leadership, especially pointed U.S. displeasure, underlined by the U.S. abstention on a U.N. Security Council resolution condemning the Israeli operation. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #5 wonder if the released "pigs and monkeys" are being used to detect Paleo ambushes |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-05-21 7:24:33 PM |
| #4 Israeli troops and tanks began pulling out of the Rafah refugee camp at daybreak Friday . . . Israeli troops now resting outside war zone waiting for fresh, "smaller" relief forces. The Eitan UAV; It's not just for chasing escaped ostriches from a zoo. |
| Posted by: BigEd 2004-05-21 3:34:51 PM |
| #3 You know that if Egypt had not violated the peace accord it had signed with Israel, by allowing the weapons smuggling tunnels from its territory into Gaza and the flow of heavy arms, the Israeli army would not have entered and be pulling out now. "especially pointed U.S. displeasure, underlined by the U.S. abstention...." Why didn't the US show displeasure at Egypt's behaviour of the past few years? Don't tell me it was to keep Egypt quiet about Iraq only to have it stoke the fire under Collin's roadmap. |
| Posted by: Cynic 2004-05-21 1:58:55 PM |
| #2 Hudna! |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2004-05-21 10:36:56 AM |
| #1 DEBKAfile’s Special Correspondent in Rafah reports: Israel’s Rafah operation goes on Friday. Reports of troop withdrawals are incorrect They come from two sources: Israeli political circles hoping to stop anti-Israel diplomatic and media campaign, and Palestinians, to draw civilians out of homes in Tel Sultan and Brazil districts and lure Israeli forces into booby-trapped alleys where ambush squads await. Israeli troops now resting outside war zone waiting for fresh, smaller relief forces. No diminution of armored force or Golani, Givati and Egoz special operations units fighting in Rafah region. |
| Posted by: Phil_B 2004-05-21 5:22:25 AM |