Israel bracing for a possible

guerrilla war with Palestinian fighters

JERUSALEM (Sept. 16/97) XINHUA - Israeli army is bracing for a possible

guerrilla war with Palestinian fighters that could be triggered by the

deterioration in the political situation, Israel Radio reported today.

The report quoted military sources as saying that the army has prepared

operational plans, and regular and reserve units are receiving special

training to be ready for future skirmishes.

Based on the lesson learned from the bloodshed last September, special

police units have been set up and special protective equipments have been

purchased, the report added.

The sources warned of an outbreak of guerrilla warfare and an escalation

in the uses of weapons in the Palestinian territories if the current

deadlock in the peace process continues and mistrust between Israel and

the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) increases.

They added that the PNA has also beefed up their security forces and is

maintaining a state of alert, fearing that Israeli security forces might

enter Palestinian self-rule areas to capture so-called terrorists.

Palestinian residents in the territories have been instructed how to

respond to Israeli troops if they reenter the Palestinian cities.

Following the July 30 twin suicide bombings in Jerusalem's Mahane Yehuda

market launched by the Islamic Resistant Movement (Hamas), Israeli Cabinet

approved sending troops into Palestinian areas to capture Islamic

militants.

Since the September 4 triple bombings in Jerusalem's Ben Yehuda mall,

Israel has carried out a sweep of Hamas activists in areas under its

control, nabbing about 250 of them.

The recent visit by United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright

here failed to break the prolonged deadlock in the peace process. Although

Israel took some good-will gestures by releasing more frozen tax revenues

and easing the internal closure of the territories, the general closure

remains in effect.

And in a provocative step, three Jewish settler families moved Sunday

night into two houses in East Jerusalem's Ras Amud Arab neighborhood,

sparking strong Palestinian protests and rioting.

Due to the sensitivity of the Jerusalem issue, the latest incident could

trigger widespread Palestinian violence that will threaten to scuttle the

moribund peace process.

Xinhua