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Sharon Responds To Withdrawal Calls By Using F-16s
Tuesday, April 9, 2002
Islam Online & News Agencies

"Like every other country, Israel has a right to security, but the Israeli government must respect international law, including international humanitarian law," UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said in a statement today.

NABLUS, West Bank -- IO
In defiance of U.S. and world calls for immediate withdrawal, Israeli F-16 warplanes were used Tuesday to bomb al-Yasmina district of Nablus' Old City, after the Israeli army failed to break the tough Palestinian resistance there.

The Israeli planes fired four missiles into the district where Palestinian resistance continued despite several days of heavy combat, witnesses told Agence France-Presse (AFP).

The F-16 strikes -- the first since Israel launched its invasion of West Bank cities 12 days ago -- came just hours after the Palestinian resistance killed 13 Israeli soldiers in bitter fighting in Jenin's refugee camp.

The use of the F-16s came also hours after the U.S. administration reiterated its calls on Israel to withdraw ‘without delay’ from the Palestinian areas.

In Washington, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said President Bush "believes all parties still have responsibilities, [he is] still looking for results.

"Israel's [responsibility] is withdrawal and to do so now. The Arab nations' responsibilities are to exercise statesmanship and create an environment for peace by condemning terrorism, by stopping the funding of terrorists," reported BBC’s online news service.
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Dan