ARABS-ISRAEL - Oct. 12 - WB/Gaza Violence Escalates As 2 Israeli Soldiers Are Lynched.

Angry Palestinian mobs in Ramallah lynch two Israeli soldiers. The killing is filmed by an Italian cameraman and the grisly scene was broadcast repeatedly on Israeli TV. Then TV images flashed across the world showing shouting mobs kicking and beating one of the bodies with rocks and with a window screen, after it was dumped to the ground. At least two PA policemen were seen shaking their fists from the balcony, with one showing the blood on his chest and hands. Immediately many Israelis urged their government to strike back in biblical style. On PM Barak's prompt orders, Israeli land, air and naval forces hit various Palestinian targets in the West Bank and Gaza, including a Fatah barracks near Arafat's HQ. Israeli authorities said the two soldiers who were lynched was reservists who had strayed into Ramallah by accident, while PA police said they believed they were members of a special Israeli undercover unit. The soldiers were in uniform, although one was said to be wearing only a white T-shirt with his green fatigue plants and army boots. Their civilian car came down one of the main commercial streets of Ramallah just as hundreds of mourners were returning from the funeral of a young Palestinian killed on Oct.11 by Israeli troops. Palestinian policemen took the soldiers into their station, either to arrest them or to save them from the mob. But the crowds soon set upon the 2-story station climbing over the walls, injuring at least 13 policemen, and then stabbing, beating and killing the Israeli soldiers. Later in the day Arafat ordered an investigation into the lynching. By Oct. 13 the Palestinian death toll had exceeded 100. On Oct. 14, after mass demonstrations in most Arab capitals and threats of more escalation, President Mubarak reversed his position and called for an emergency summit to be held at Sharm El Shaikh on Oct. 16 and to be attended by Arafat, Barak, Mubarak, US President Clinton, Jordan's King Abdullah II, Annan, and Solana. Arafat and Barak accepted to attend the summit after intense pressure from the US, EU, UN and Arab quarters. Previously Mubarak was against such a summit.