Prime Minister Sharon, after a several-hour Cabinet meeting last night, announced that Arafat is \"an enemy and will be isolated at this stage.\" It was announced afterwards that the Cabinet had \"approved, in principle, a wide-ranging operational action plan against Palestinian terror... Israel will act to defeat the infrastructure of Palestinian terror in all its parts and components; to this end, broad action will be undertaken until this goal is secured.\"
Mr. Sharon told Likud party mayors that the military offensive will last many weeks, and that national unity is critical now in order to withstand the heavy international pressures that are certain to be exerted upon Israel.
Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said that the army is preparing for a campaign against terrorism lasting several weeks - although he emphasized that Israel would not remain in the PA-controlled areas. The army began calling up this morning some 20,000 reservists for active military duty. Many army convoys are traveling the roadways of Judea and Samaria on their way to their offensives; Arab drivers are barely seen on the roads.
Arafat announced last night that he was ready for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire - but his announcement was not broadcast on PA television.
The IDF began its major offensive into Ramallah this morning, and tanks entered Arafat\'s Muktaa compound in search of wanted terrorist leaders; many were arrested in the ensuing hours. Lt. Boaz Pomerantz, 22, of Kiryat Shmonah, was killed in the battle there, and four soldiers were wounded, one moderately. PA television reports that five Arabs were killed. The IDF has essentially conquered all of Ramallah, although many of its residents left last night in anticipation of an Israeli offensive. The forces destroyed the outer wall of Arafat\'s compound, are deployed in the compound\'s yard of Arafat\'s office, and have taken over seven buildings in the complex, including those of Force-17, General Intelligence, and the like. The Israelis made loudspeaker calls for all Arabs and PA leaders inside the buildings to give themselves up; Arafat has taken shelter in underground floors.
The phone lines in the compound are still working, and Arafat used them to call for \"millions of holy martyrs\" to take over Jerusalem. He said again that he is willing to die: \"I\'m no better than the holy terrorist who committed the [massacre] in Netanya [on Pesach night].\" Arafat called on Arabs all over the world to come to the aid of the Palestinians, and storm Israeli embassies
The IDF also once again divided the Gaza Strip into three sections, in an effort to prevent the Palestinians from transporting weapons and missile parts in and around Gaza.
Minister Ben-Eliezer said, \"No one is immune from the IDF as long as he carries the label of terrorism,\" although he said that there is no intention to physically harm Arafat. \"What happened in the past few days has destroyed all the efforts of the past year to achieve a ceasefire,\" the Defense Minister said. The Ramallah operation was scheduled to occur two weeks ago, but was called off because of Ben-Eliezer\'s objections.
Mr. Sharon told Likud party mayors that the military offensive will last many weeks, and that national unity is critical now in order to withstand the heavy international pressures that are certain to be exerted upon Israel.
Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said that the army is preparing for a campaign against terrorism lasting several weeks - although he emphasized that Israel would not remain in the PA-controlled areas. The army began calling up this morning some 20,000 reservists for active military duty. Many army convoys are traveling the roadways of Judea and Samaria on their way to their offensives; Arab drivers are barely seen on the roads.
Arafat announced last night that he was ready for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire - but his announcement was not broadcast on PA television.
The IDF began its major offensive into Ramallah this morning, and tanks entered Arafat\'s Muktaa compound in search of wanted terrorist leaders; many were arrested in the ensuing hours. Lt. Boaz Pomerantz, 22, of Kiryat Shmonah, was killed in the battle there, and four soldiers were wounded, one moderately. PA television reports that five Arabs were killed. The IDF has essentially conquered all of Ramallah, although many of its residents left last night in anticipation of an Israeli offensive. The forces destroyed the outer wall of Arafat\'s compound, are deployed in the compound\'s yard of Arafat\'s office, and have taken over seven buildings in the complex, including those of Force-17, General Intelligence, and the like. The Israelis made loudspeaker calls for all Arabs and PA leaders inside the buildings to give themselves up; Arafat has taken shelter in underground floors.
The phone lines in the compound are still working, and Arafat used them to call for \"millions of holy martyrs\" to take over Jerusalem. He said again that he is willing to die: \"I\'m no better than the holy terrorist who committed the [massacre] in Netanya [on Pesach night].\" Arafat called on Arabs all over the world to come to the aid of the Palestinians, and storm Israeli embassies
The IDF also once again divided the Gaza Strip into three sections, in an effort to prevent the Palestinians from transporting weapons and missile parts in and around Gaza.
Minister Ben-Eliezer said, \"No one is immune from the IDF as long as he carries the label of terrorism,\" although he said that there is no intention to physically harm Arafat. \"What happened in the past few days has destroyed all the efforts of the past year to achieve a ceasefire,\" the Defense Minister said. The Ramallah operation was scheduled to occur two weeks ago, but was called off because of Ben-Eliezer\'s objections.