RAMALLAH - Violence throughout the West Bank and Gaza, including an Israeli tank and helicopter raid on Palestinian-ruled Ramallah yesterday, pummelled hopes of ending almost a year of Middle East violence.
A Palestinian man was killed and at least 37 others wounded during the Israeli attack on Palestinian checkpoints and other
mainly security targets in the West Bank city, witnesses and hospital sources said.
The Israeli Army declined immediate comment on the reports.
Prospects for ending bloodshed in which at least 700 people have died since September were dealt a blow just hours before the brief pre-dawn attack when Israel called off truce talks with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.
An Israeli political source said Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, at Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's behest, would not meet Arafat for talks provisionally scheduled for Gaza today.
"There won't be a meeting tomorrow. Peres still wants to meet Arafat but Sharon thinks a meeting would be harmful at this time," the source said, adding that there were no immediate plans to reschedule the talks.
Sharon, who insists there be an end to violence before peace talks resume, has been locked in disagreement with his dovish foreign minister over the much-debated meeting.
"Sharon is showing his true face. All he wants is to continue his aggression against the Palestinians," Palestinian Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo said.
Peres has suggested that failure to maintain a peace dialogue could harm US efforts to draw Arab nations into its its anti-terrorism international alliance after Tuesday's attacks on New York and Washington that killed thousands.
Palestinians and Western diplomats had said yesterday that they expected the meeting to go ahead.
Hospital officials said a Palestinian military intelligence officer died after tanks entered Ramallah from up to four different locations and fired several shells before starting to withdraw about four hours later.
Witnesses said the pre-dawn Israeli incursion prompted fierce gunbattles in the city.
- REUTERS
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