Fierce gun battles erupted in the West Bank and Gaza Strip on Monday, leaving one Palestinian dead and 15 wounded, including five boys. In one clash, Israeli tank shells hit a mosque, a kindergarten and a rescue vehicle, witnesses said. Four Israeli soldiers were also wounded in the fighting. The violence came as Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told Secretary of State Colin Powell he would permit high-level truce talks with the Palestinians only after 48 hours of complete calm. Sharon said he doubted Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was making a serious effort to stop the fighting.
Arafat said Monday that he has issued "strong and clear instructions for a full commitment to a cease-fire." |