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Friday, Sep 03, 2004

International

International

Israel threatens to strike Syria

JERUSALEM, SEPT. 2. Israel ratcheted up its rhetoric against Syria on Thursday, hinting of possible military action, following this week's deadly suicide bombing in southern Israel.

Israeli officials have repeatedly accused Syria of backing the Hamas militants who carried out Tuesday's attack, which killed 16 people in Beersheba. Hamas' top leadership, including its overall leader, Khaled Mashaal, is based in the Syrian capital of Damascus.

"Syria is responsible for acts of terror and giving patronage to terror groups," Israel's Foreign Minister, Silvan Shalom, told Israel Army Radio on Thursday.

"When we see Syria as responsible, it of course has to understand that this kind of thing will have very clear consequences for it," Mr. Shalom said. Security sources said Israeli leaders have not begun discussing possible military actions against Syria, while analysts said the two countries are not likely to go to war any time soon.

Hunger strike ends

Meanwhile, thousands of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel ended an 18-day hunger strike on Thursday, with representatives saying that Israel had agreed to meet key demands for improving their conditions.

"It's over today," said Issa Karake, head of the Palestinian prisoners' association.

Mr. Karake said Israeli authorities had given in to many important demands, including an end to strip searches, allowing prisoners to talk to their families on the phone, and removing glass partitions between prisoners and visiting relatives.

Israeli authorities confirmed that the strike by some 4,000 prisoners was over, but denied giving in to any Palestinian demands.

Gaza homes razed

In another incident, in the Khan Younis refugee camp in Gaza, Israeli troops on Thursday ordered 6,000 Palestinians from their homes and ushered them to a nearby school-yard while the army razed two five-story buildings it said was used to stage militant attacks.

Residents said 40 families were left homeless. The army put the figure at 12. "We strongly condemn the Israeli aggression ... against our people in Khan Younis," Palestinian Cabinet Minister, Saeb Erekat, said .

Lawmakers' strike

In a sudden development, Palestinian lawmakers have said they will go on a month-long strike to protest the Palestinian President, Yasser Arafat's refusal to ratify new laws that would force reform in the corruption-ridden Palestinian Authority.

In a rare of show of defiance, lawmakers voted unanimously Wednesday to suspend all legislative sessions, hoping to push Mr. Arafat to approve reform laws passed by the members.

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