Israeli air force fires missiles at targets in Gaza Strip; Palestinians bitterly mark Israel anniversary

Saturday, May 15th 2004, 10:52 am

By: News On 6

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) _ Israeli helicopter gunships rocketed three Islamic Jihad targets in the Gaza Strip early Saturday, while Palestinians in the Rafah refugee camp rushed back to see what was left of dozens of homes demolished by Israel during bitter fighting.

The destruction came as the Palestinians bitterly marked the 56th anniversary of Israel's founding. In the West Bank, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat _ citing the Quran _ called on his people to ``terrorize your enemy,'' although he also said he is ready to make peace with Israel.

Israeli helicopters fired nine missiles at targets in Gaza City and the southern town of Rafah, slightly wounding four bystanders, hospital officials said. The missiles struck two deserted buildings in Gaza City housing offices associated with Islamic Jihad, the militant group said.

In Rafah, a missile hit the home of an Islamic Jihad leader who was not there, residents said.

The army said both offices in Gaza City were used by Islamic Jihad to recruit terrorists. The Rafah building was a bomb-making facility and center for planning attacks on Israel, it said.

Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for a pair of deadly attacks on Israeli armored vehicles in Gaza this week. The attacks sparked one of the bloodiest weeks of violence in Gaza. In all, 13 Israeli soldiers and 31 Palestinians have died, and more than 300 Palestinians have been wounded, since Tuesday.

Early Saturday, the army pulled out of the Rafah refugee camp. The U.N. agency that delivers aid to Palestinians described a scene of widespread destruction. Paul McCann, spokesman for the U.N. Relief and Works Agency, said 88 buildings housing 1,064 people were demolished.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Friday condemned the destruction of Palestinian homes in Rafah, calling the demolitions a violation of international law.

The Israeli army said it had to secure the area for troops searching for the remains of five soldiers killed in a blast there earlier in the week, and it demolished buildings used for cover by militants. It also reported heavy ``collateral damage'' from shootouts with Palestinian militants.

Since the outbreak of fighting in September 2000, the Israeli military has razed 1,026 houses in Rafah and damaged 767, local officials say. The destruction has left more than 10,000 Palestinians homeless. Israel frequently operates in the area to destroy weapons-smuggling tunnels along the Egyptian border.

Residents hurried back to survey the damage done to their property and witnesses said the army left the area a wasteland of ruined buildings, roads, electricity lines and water pipes.

``The destruction here is more powerful than an earthquake,'' said Raslan Abu Taha, 39, whose house was destroyed. ``There is nothing left, only rubble, tears and fears for the future.''

The withdrawal came as Palestinians bitterly marked the anniversary of Israel's establishment 56 years ago, a day known to Palestinians as ``the catastrophe.'' The latest fighting left some families displaced for a second or third time since Israeli independence.

In a televised speech from the West Bank town of Ramallah, Arafat urged his people to remain steadfast.

``Find what strength you have to terrorize your enemy and the enemy of God,'' he said, quoting the Quran. ``And if they want peace, then let's have peace.''

Arafat, whom Israel accuses of supporting militant groups, did not appear to be calling for new attacks on Israel. The Quranic passage refers to the early Muslims' wars against pagans and is frequently invoked by Islamic leaders today to encourage strength in times of conflict.

Arafat also said the Palestinians' ``hand is extended (to Israel) ... to make this peace, the peace of the brave.''

At noon, sirens wailed throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip to signal three minutes of silence. Thousands of Palestinians marched throughout the areas. Many held keys to homes lost more than half a century ago.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians fled or were expelled during fighting ahead of Israel's independence on May 15, 1948. Although Palestinian leaders say they want an independent state in Gaza and the West Bank, several million refugees and their descendants hope to return to their properties inside Israel.

Israel opposes the return of Palestinian refugees, saying it would be demographic suicide. President Bush backed the Israeli position, saying refugees would have to settle in a future Palestinian state.

``There will be no concessions, no bargaining,'' Arafat said. ``It is a sacred right for each refugee to return to his homeland.''

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon proposed unilaterally evacuating Gaza and isolated settlements in the West Bank, saying there is no serious partner for peace talks on the Palestinian side.

But his Likud Party recently rejected that plan.