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Morning News

Sounds of Gunfire Echoing Once Again Through the Old City of Jerusalem

Aired October 6, 2000 - 10:02 a.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Now let's get the latest from Jerusalem, that is where our bureau chief, Mike Hanna, is standing by live.

And hopefully, Mike, you can hear us just fine.

MIKE HANNA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Daryn, I can hear you indeed, and we have also been hearing in the course of day, the sounds of gunfire echoing once again through the Old City of Jerusalem. Prayers being held in the al-Axa (ph) mosque, within the compound that Muslims call al-Haram as-Sharif, that Jews refer to as the Temple Mount.

Prayers passed peacefully enough with Islamic clerics calling for restraint. However, violence brokeout when the faithful were leaving at the north end of the compound. The Palestinian demonstrations -- demonstrators, armed with stones, came once again into confrontation with Israeli security forces. A number of round were fired by the Israelis.

The Palestinians reportedly attacked an Israeli police station just outside the north wall of the city. Several police officers, who have been inside, were injured, say the Israeli authorities, but were evacuated. At least 20 Palestinians were reported to have been wounded in the clash.

Scenes like this seen throughout, again, the West Bank, a number of clashes in several West Bank towns and villages. One report from the town of Nablus says a 19-year-old Palestinian youth has been killed. The death toll now over 70, the overwhelming majority of those killed either Palestinian or Arab-Israelis. And it does appear that those hoping that there would be a cessation of hostilities now their hopes are being dashed.

However, we understand that the commanders on the ground have maintained communication. They had been in communication for the past 24 hours, Israeli and Palestinian security chiefs had come to a lot of agreements, in terms of restricting and containing the level of the violence. However, this day shows that the situation on the ground still at any moment threatens to spiral out of control.

Back to you. KAGAN: Mike, and on top of everything else, we are coming upon another Jewish High Holiday, Yom Kippur just days away. Any special preparations being made in terms of security across Israel for that?

HANNA: Well, within the past 12 hours, the Israeli authorities have sealed off the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. This is formerly done, or in recent years has been normally done before the Jewish holidays. However this has been done a day early, part of the Israeli security preparations for this particular situation.

However, the situation is, as we've seen on this particular day, even though these areas have been sealed off by the Israeli forces, still violence erupts in the middle of Jerusalem, in the city holy to both Muslims and Jews, not boding well for the days ahead.

KAGAN: Mike Hanna, reporting live from Jerusalem, thank you very much -- Bill.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: All right, once again, Ben Wedeman in Gaza by telephone, bringing up to date from that corner of the Middle East.

Ben, what do you have for us now?

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bill, Today Hamas declared was a day of rage, and that is exactly what it is here in Gaza. I am at the Netzarim Junction, where throughout the day, there has been fairly steady gunfire coming from in a nearby Israeli position. Many Palestinians have been wounded, some of them seriously.

We were, for several hours, pinned down behind a factory, unable to move, because of 50-caliber machine gun bullets coming our way.

It seems to have quieted down just a little bit now. Earlier in the morning, we were at a funeral for a Palestinian who was killed at this junction yesterday. Very emotional, a lot of shouting and chanting against the United States as well.

Passions are definitely rising here, despite the fact it's been eight days of almost these clashes -- Bill.

HEMMER: Ben, it is our understanding back here in the U.S. that this day of rage was supposed to be targeted at Israeli soldiers, either in the West Bank or in Gaza. Is that the direction of the anger that you're seeing thus far today?

WEDEMAN: Bill, there's been a lot of gunfire during your question, can you repeat it please?

HEMMER: I am sorry, Ben. It was our understanding that the rage was supposed to be directed at Israeli soldiers there in Gaza. Is that what you are seeing and witnessing there?

WEDEMAN: Bill, I'm sorry there's too much in the background. I am going to have to pass it back to you. HEMMER: Well understood. Ben Wedeman, live in Gaza there by telephone. And certainly, as Ben was describing, that situation today continues to be one of unrest and turmoil. We will continue to track it. Ben Wedeman again by telephone there in Gaza.

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