An exchange of gunfire is underway between Israel Defense Forces troops and Arafat\'s bodyguards in Arafat\'s Mukata compound in Ramallah. The Israelis have not entered Arafat\'s building, although they are in control of adjacent buildings and have broken down walls. Israel has allowed food and medical supplies into Arafat\'s office, and emphasizes that it has no plans to physically harm him. PA sources say that two of Arafat\'s bodyguards have been wounded, and negotiations are underway with the Red Crescent regarding their evacuation. It has been reported, though not with certainty, that the murderers of Minister Rehavam Ze\'evi, as well as the man who organized the purchase of the Karine-A weapons ship, are inside the compound.
Operation \"Protective Wall\" continues into its third day today, with the call-up of some 20,000 soldiers over the weekend. The major offensive is taking place in Ramallah, as well as in Beit Jala and Tul Karem. Dozens of tanks continue to surround Yasser Arafat\'s Mukata headquarters. The army announced that anyone seen armed with a weapon would be fired upon without hesitation, calling on PA security personnel and others to put down their weapons and surrender. Hundreds of persons came out with their hands up. Soldiers approached with extreme caution, ordering the detainees to lift their garments to ensure they were not carrying explosive devices to be used against soldiers. Some 10-20 Arabs have been killed in the fighting, and two Israeli soldiers. The electricity supply has been on and off to the compound and nearby Ramallah areas.
The IDF forces uncovered many weapons caches in and near Arafat\'s office, including RPG shoulder-held rockets, anti-tank rockets, US-manufactured shotguns, automatic weapons, and large stashes of ammunition, and night vision equipment stolen from the IDF. Dozens of Arab suspects were taken into custody, including many PA security officials. Hundreds of others were rounded up and taken for \"routine\" interrogation; in previous similar incidents in Tul Karem and Jenin, the vast majority of them were released after a few hours.
As Israeli tanks and bulldozers advanced through the compound throughout yesterday, they discovered huge tunnels containing vast illegal stores of weaponry such as anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles. These included many Law (Light Anti-Tank Weapons) rockets, electronic surveillance devices for tracking Israeli military movements, and detailed diagrams of local Israeli bases. It was reported that Israel’s military and intelligence command ordered military bulldozers to systematically break through suspect buildings in the compound in order to both uncover the illicit weapons stores and leave Arafat isolated in his undamaged office and living quarters amid the ruins of his compound.
Operation \"Protective Wall\" continues into its third day today, with the call-up of some 20,000 soldiers over the weekend. The major offensive is taking place in Ramallah, as well as in Beit Jala and Tul Karem. Dozens of tanks continue to surround Yasser Arafat\'s Mukata headquarters. The army announced that anyone seen armed with a weapon would be fired upon without hesitation, calling on PA security personnel and others to put down their weapons and surrender. Hundreds of persons came out with their hands up. Soldiers approached with extreme caution, ordering the detainees to lift their garments to ensure they were not carrying explosive devices to be used against soldiers. Some 10-20 Arabs have been killed in the fighting, and two Israeli soldiers. The electricity supply has been on and off to the compound and nearby Ramallah areas.
The IDF forces uncovered many weapons caches in and near Arafat\'s office, including RPG shoulder-held rockets, anti-tank rockets, US-manufactured shotguns, automatic weapons, and large stashes of ammunition, and night vision equipment stolen from the IDF. Dozens of Arab suspects were taken into custody, including many PA security officials. Hundreds of others were rounded up and taken for \"routine\" interrogation; in previous similar incidents in Tul Karem and Jenin, the vast majority of them were released after a few hours.
As Israeli tanks and bulldozers advanced through the compound throughout yesterday, they discovered huge tunnels containing vast illegal stores of weaponry such as anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles. These included many Law (Light Anti-Tank Weapons) rockets, electronic surveillance devices for tracking Israeli military movements, and detailed diagrams of local Israeli bases. It was reported that Israel’s military and intelligence command ordered military bulldozers to systematically break through suspect buildings in the compound in order to both uncover the illicit weapons stores and leave Arafat isolated in his undamaged office and living quarters amid the ruins of his compound.