Military

DATE=08/26/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS (L-O)

NUMBER=2-293384

BYLINE= ROSS DUNN

DATELINE=

CONTENT=

VOICED

INTRO: The head of Israel's army, Moshe Ya'alon, has re-defined the Palestinian conflict as the greatest threat facing the country today. Ross Dunn reports from Jerusalem the Israeli official likened the conflict to a cancer.

TEXT: General Ya'alon, who was appointed head of the army this year, says that Palestinian terror, in his words, "the most serious security threat" to Israel.

Speaking to an assembly of rabbis in Jerusalem, he said that Israel must win, in his words, "this war against the Palestinians" or face what he termed "a threat of cancer-like proportions".

General Ya'alon refused to characterize the conflict, which began in September 2000, as a popular uprising or intifada by the Palestinian people.

He said that the attacks are being directed by the Palestinian Authority, which he says, refuses to recognized Israel's right to exist and wants to destroy the Jewish State "in stages".

General Ya'alon, also criticized Israel's decision to withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon two years ago saying this had encouraged the Palestinians to go to "war."

General Ya'alon said they had concluded wrongly that Israeli society had a "lack of endurance" and could also be forced to withdraw from the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

He added that he was not particularly troubled by the implications of an American strike on Iraq, saying it was clear it had not been able to develop atomic weapons.

General Ya'alon insisted he is more concerned about the threat from the Palestinians.

His speech came as the Israeli Supreme Court met to consider a petition opposing the planned deportation of relatives of Palestinian suicide bombers from the West Bank to the Gaza Strip.

Israel's army says such actions could help deter future terrorist attacks. The Palestinian families say the policy amounts to collective punishment and abuse of human rights. (SIGNED)

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