Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer began consultations with senior security establishment officials after the evening of terror attacks. It was decided to call off all contacts with Yasser Arafat, and to take strong military action against Palestinian targets. The government declared that Arafat is directly responsible for the terrorism. It now considers him no longer \"relevant,\" and all contacts with him will be called off. The army will quickly prepare for arrests and and for the confiscation of weapons in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza. The government sees the PA and its leader as directly responsible for the Palestinian population\'s sad situation, and will continue to do what it can to help this population.
In the ensuing air and ground attacks, the Palestinian Department of Science in Shechem, Force 17 buildings, and other targets were hit.
The army also divided up the Gaza Strip into three areas, preventing traffic from one to another. It also took up positions only 200 meters from Arafat\'s offices in Ramallah, pointing their tanks towards his windows. Arab sources in Ramallah claim that the television station was also hit, but Israeli sources say that the buildings are still standing.
The military actions ended sometime before early morning, and have not yet resumed. The Palestinian attacks did not stop this morning, however: A mortar shell hit a Gush Katif community, causing damage but no injuries. Near Rafiach, Arabs threw two grenades at IDF vehicles, and bombed and fired upon an IDF outpost near Gadid. Outside of Gaza, an IDF force saw a pipebomb near Sa-Nur, and safely detonated it.
In the ensuing air and ground attacks, the Palestinian Department of Science in Shechem, Force 17 buildings, and other targets were hit.
The army also divided up the Gaza Strip into three areas, preventing traffic from one to another. It also took up positions only 200 meters from Arafat\'s offices in Ramallah, pointing their tanks towards his windows. Arab sources in Ramallah claim that the television station was also hit, but Israeli sources say that the buildings are still standing.
The military actions ended sometime before early morning, and have not yet resumed. The Palestinian attacks did not stop this morning, however: A mortar shell hit a Gush Katif community, causing damage but no injuries. Near Rafiach, Arabs threw two grenades at IDF vehicles, and bombed and fired upon an IDF outpost near Gadid. Outside of Gaza, an IDF force saw a pipebomb near Sa-Nur, and safely detonated it.