In keeping with a decision by the security cabinet to \"respond sharply\" to yesterday\'s PA terrorism while not causing the PA \"irreversible damage,\" Israel\'s armed forces attacked several specific key targets in Gaza and Shechem last night and today. Prime Minister Sharon, Foreign Minister Peres, and Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer convened last night in Sharon\'s home in the Negev to decide on the measures in light of yesterday’s fatal terrorist attack in Be\'er Sheva and the PLO’s launching of Kassam-2 rockets on pre-1967 Israeli areas. They announced afterwards that the Kassam-2 missile launching \"cannot be tolerated\" and that Israel\'s reaction would be \"strong and quick.\" In the end, however, the military response was not qualitatively different than other reactions in the past.
The actions began last night with Israel\'s bombing of two factories in the Jabalia refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip used for the manufacture of mortar bombs, rockets and other weapons. Today, Air Force F-16s bombed Arafat’s Force 17 headquarters in Gaza City, and helicopters fired nine rockets in several attacks against the compound known as Ansar-2. Six terrorists are reported to have been seriously wounded. Two UN workers were lightly injured by broken windows as a result of the blast\'s shock wave; the UN\'s Terje Larsen was quick to condemn Israel, which issued a swift apology and clarification that the hit was not intentional.
Also last night, IDF infantry forces accompanied by tanks and armored vehicles entered the PLO-controlled city of Shechem and surrounded Joseph’s Tomb. The goal of the mission was not to re-take the holy site, but merely to put a stop to terrorist attacks originating from that area. The force was targeted several times by Arab gunfire during the operation; no injuries were reported.
Sharon again yesterday laid the blame directly on Arafat for the continuing Palestinian terrorism. Taken together with the Prime Minister\'s declared intention to find a successor for Arafat with whom to negotiate, this seemed to imply that Abu Ala, Abu Mazen, and Mohammed Rashid, with whom Sharon met ten days ago, do not share responsibility for the murderous terrorism. Spokesmen in the Prime Minister\'s Office, asked to comment on this and other points, had no response.
The actions began last night with Israel\'s bombing of two factories in the Jabalia refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip used for the manufacture of mortar bombs, rockets and other weapons. Today, Air Force F-16s bombed Arafat’s Force 17 headquarters in Gaza City, and helicopters fired nine rockets in several attacks against the compound known as Ansar-2. Six terrorists are reported to have been seriously wounded. Two UN workers were lightly injured by broken windows as a result of the blast\'s shock wave; the UN\'s Terje Larsen was quick to condemn Israel, which issued a swift apology and clarification that the hit was not intentional.
Also last night, IDF infantry forces accompanied by tanks and armored vehicles entered the PLO-controlled city of Shechem and surrounded Joseph’s Tomb. The goal of the mission was not to re-take the holy site, but merely to put a stop to terrorist attacks originating from that area. The force was targeted several times by Arab gunfire during the operation; no injuries were reported.
Sharon again yesterday laid the blame directly on Arafat for the continuing Palestinian terrorism. Taken together with the Prime Minister\'s declared intention to find a successor for Arafat with whom to negotiate, this seemed to imply that Abu Ala, Abu Mazen, and Mohammed Rashid, with whom Sharon met ten days ago, do not share responsibility for the murderous terrorism. Spokesmen in the Prime Minister\'s Office, asked to comment on this and other points, had no response.