The Cabinet convened for several hours last night, after which the following statement was released:
\"The Government and people of Israel are shocked and outraged by the cold-blooded assassination of Minister Rehavam Ze\'evi… The murder of a member of the Israeli Cabinet and Knesset crosses all red lines... The responsibility lies squarely with Arafat and the Palestinian Authority…
\"In the interest of creating calm and advancing the cause of peace, and at the urging of our friends in the international community, we held meetings with Chairman Arafat, roadblocks were removed, and Israeli forces withdrew from Hevron. But the Palestinians only reciprocated with violence and murder. Many promises were made, but only little steps were taken to prevent terror.
\"The time for words has ended, and the time for deeds has come. Israel demands the extradition of those responsible for today\'s assassination, and expects this to be carried out immediately. We also demand that the terrorist organizations operating in the Palestinian areas be outlawed, disarmed, and dismantled. Arafat must not shelter them any longer.
\"Failure to meet these demands, which are grounded in signed agreements between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, will leave us with no choice but to view the Palestinian Authority as an entity supporting and sponsoring terror, and to act accordingly.\"
\"The Government and people of Israel are shocked and outraged by the cold-blooded assassination of Minister Rehavam Ze\'evi… The murder of a member of the Israeli Cabinet and Knesset crosses all red lines... The responsibility lies squarely with Arafat and the Palestinian Authority…
\"In the interest of creating calm and advancing the cause of peace, and at the urging of our friends in the international community, we held meetings with Chairman Arafat, roadblocks were removed, and Israeli forces withdrew from Hevron. But the Palestinians only reciprocated with violence and murder. Many promises were made, but only little steps were taken to prevent terror.
\"The time for words has ended, and the time for deeds has come. Israel demands the extradition of those responsible for today\'s assassination, and expects this to be carried out immediately. We also demand that the terrorist organizations operating in the Palestinian areas be outlawed, disarmed, and dismantled. Arafat must not shelter them any longer.
\"Failure to meet these demands, which are grounded in signed agreements between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, will leave us with no choice but to view the Palestinian Authority as an entity supporting and sponsoring terror, and to act accordingly.\"