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Flak jacket saves French journalist
( 2001-05-17 10:27 ) (7 )

At one of the flash points where Israeli soldiers often do battle with Palestinian kids, Bertrand Aguirre, a French television correspondent, had just finished recording part of his story when a shot was fired from a jeep belonging to Israel's border police 150 yards away.

Aguirre's flak jacket saved his life. He and the cameraman who recorded the incident say they were far away from the stone-throwers. They have no idea why the army would target them.

Ten days ago, Israel's defense minister said he was giving his field commanders a "free hand" to pursue Palestinian gunmen anywhere. But that free hand has become a heavy one.

'Not What We Intended'

In the past 10 days, Israeli troops have bombarded, shelled and machine-gunned dozens of Palestinian areas. Twenty-two Palestinians have been killed, including five policemen who were killed after Israeli soldiers opened fire on their checkpoint.

At first, Israeli spokesmen said the soldiers had been responding to Palestinian fire. Now, even the army admits there was no fire. Israel's chief of staff told a government committee last night that "the result was not what we intended."

Just hours after voicing its regret, the Israeli army launched another attack on a Palestinian police station Wednesday.

"There is entire immunity here," says Akiva Eldar, a columnist for the Ha'Aretz newspaper. "The message is: OK, excuse me, I killed five soldiers but mistakes happen."

And it's doubtful, he says, that in this climate, many Israelis will even care.

This morning, Israel's army killed 14-year-old Muhammad Salim during a clash at Netzarim Junction in central Gaza, according to officials at Shifa Hospital. He was throwing stones, the army says, and the soldiers shot him in the legs. But Muhammad died of chest wounds.

And the Palestinians who buried him today say he was simply walking home from school.