7 Killed as Sharon Heads to U.S.

09/06/2002| IslamWeb

HIGHLIGHTS: Sharon Determined No Peace Talks Before Armed Resistance Stops||No Major Developments Expected of 6th Bush-Sharon Washington Talks Monday||Palestinian Cabinet Reshuffle Expected Shortly|| STORY: In a trio of deadly episodes Saturday in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Palestinian Resistance men killed three settlers at a mobile home settlement, while at least four armed Palestinians died. (Read photo caption)

The bloodshed came as Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon headed to Washington to tell President Bush that peace talks should not be restarted until the more than 20 months of violence ends.

Sharon, on his sixth trip to the White House in a little more than a year in office, has received strong backing from the Bush administration.

Sharon, who was leaving Israel late Saturday, is to meet with Bush on Monday. The talks are not expected to produce any major developments, and are seen as the latest installment of close U.S.-Israeli consultations on the Mideast conflict.

ISRAELI OCCUPATION AUTHORITIES REPORTED THESE INCIDENTS SATURDAY:

_About 3 a.m., two Palestinians fired automatic rifles at a cluster of 15 mobile homes just outside the fenced Jewish settlement of Karmei Tzur in the West Bank south of Jerusalem.

3 settlers were killed; four wounded. One of the attackers was killed. The second escaped.

_Two armed men were spotted swimming in the Mediterranean Sea near the Jewish coastal settlement of Dugit and were shot dead by occupation soldiers.

The body of one washed ashore, but the second was believed dead as well even though the occupation army found only a bag belonging to him. The two men were carrying automatic rifles, grenades and civilian clothes that they planned to wear after reaching shore, according to the occupation army.

_The bodies of two Palestinians were found after an explosion went off along the fence that separates Gaza and Israel, the occupation army said. It said the men were carrying bombs.

ARAFAT TO ANNOUNCE CABINET RESHUFFLE

In another development, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is likely to announce a Cabinet reshuffle soon, "probably in the next 48 hours," Cabinet minister Nabil Shaath said Saturday evening.

Arafat, who is under international pressure to reform his administration of the Palestinian autonomous areas and improve security, is expected to reduce his Cabinet from 32 ministers to about 19 and will bring in new faces, Palestinian officials have said.

Another Palestinian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Abdel Razak Yehiyeh, 73, a former Resistance commander, would be named head of the streamlined security forces.

Yehiyeh has not held any high-profile positions recently, and his selection would bypass more prominent figures. Some Israeli analysts have said such a selection would allow Arafat to give the appearance of putting someone new in charge of security, while wielding power himself behind the scenes.

Sharon has said he does not believe any meaningful negotiations can take place as long as Arafat remains in power.

PHOTO CAPTION

Israeli police and settlers, center, inspect the scene of an attack against a cluster of mobile homes in the Jewish settlement of Karmei Tsur near the West Bank town of Hebron Saturday June 8, 2002 as Israeli occupation Army soldiers, bottom, go out for a search in the area. Two Palestinian Resistance men fired at the mobile homes early Saturday, killing three settlers and wounding others. One attacker was killed and the other escaped. (AP Photo/Enric Marti)