\"Many world leaders called me today to ask whether Arafat is holed up in two rooms, or in three,\" Prime Minister Sharon said today. \"That\'s what interests them, and not the number of civilians murdered in the terrorist attacks.\" The Prime Minister convened his security cabinet this afternoon, where military leaders presented their operational plans. In light of the wave of terrorism, it was decided to step up the offensive. Mr. Sharon will address the country at 8:30 PM this evening.
Arch-terrorist Yasser Arafat is still under IDF siege in his Mukata complex in Ramallah, but Israel emphasizes that it has no intention of harming him. Gunfire was exchanged between Israel Defense Forces troops and Arafat\'s bodyguards today, and although the Israelis have not entered Arafat\'s building, they are in control of adjacent buildings. They broke down at least one wall in Arafat\'s office complex for the purpose of collecting intelligence information. Israel has allowed food and medical supplies into Arafat\'s office. 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.
IDF spokesman Ron Kitri said today, \"We are guided by a clear directive to avoid hitting Arafat,\" but that the Palestinians themselves are endangering their Chairman: \"Wherever you play with fire, if you\'re not careful enough, you can get burnt… He is not sitting in a monastery. He is sitting surrounded by heavily armed men, whether they are his bodyguards or - according to our information - important fugitives… This is obviously a complicated situation.\"
The IDF\'s Operation Protective Wall is now into its third day, featuring the call-up of some 20,000 soldiers over the weekend. The major offensive is taking place in Ramallah, where dozens of tanks continue to surround Arafat\'s headquarters. The army announced that anyone seen armed with a weapon would be fired upon without hesitation, and called on PA security personnel and others to put down their weapons and surrender; hundreds of persons came out with their hands up. Soldiers cautiously ordered the detainees to lift their garments to ensure they were not carrying explosive devices. Some 10-20 Arabs have been killed in the fighting; two Israeli soldiers were killed on Friday (see below). The electricity supply in the Mukata compound has been on and off to the compound and nearby Ramallah areas.
The IDF forces uncovered many vast illegal weapons caches in and near Arafat\'s office, including anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles. These included many Law (Light Anti-Tank Weapons) rockets, RPG shoulder-held rockets, anti-tank rockets, US-manufactured shotguns, automatic weapons, electronic surveillance devices for tracking Israeli military movements, detailed diagrams of local Israeli bases, 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 - and the driver who killed two young Beit El mothers three years ago in a hit-and-run collision; the PA had always refused to hand him over to Israel. 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.
Despite the siege situation, a number of pro-P.A. activists and journalists managed to walk into Arafat\'s office, embrace him, and hear him call for international intervention. He made no mention of the continued murderous attacks on Israeli civilians. The army afterwards declared the area a closed military zone.
Arch-terrorist Yasser Arafat is still under IDF siege in his Mukata complex in Ramallah, but Israel emphasizes that it has no intention of harming him. Gunfire was exchanged between Israel Defense Forces troops and Arafat\'s bodyguards today, and although the Israelis have not entered Arafat\'s building, they are in control of adjacent buildings. They broke down at least one wall in Arafat\'s office complex for the purpose of collecting intelligence information. Israel has allowed food and medical supplies into Arafat\'s office. 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.
IDF spokesman Ron Kitri said today, \"We are guided by a clear directive to avoid hitting Arafat,\" but that the Palestinians themselves are endangering their Chairman: \"Wherever you play with fire, if you\'re not careful enough, you can get burnt… He is not sitting in a monastery. He is sitting surrounded by heavily armed men, whether they are his bodyguards or - according to our information - important fugitives… This is obviously a complicated situation.\"
The IDF\'s Operation Protective Wall is now into its third day, featuring the call-up of some 20,000 soldiers over the weekend. The major offensive is taking place in Ramallah, where dozens of tanks continue to surround Arafat\'s headquarters. The army announced that anyone seen armed with a weapon would be fired upon without hesitation, and called on PA security personnel and others to put down their weapons and surrender; hundreds of persons came out with their hands up. Soldiers cautiously ordered the detainees to lift their garments to ensure they were not carrying explosive devices. Some 10-20 Arabs have been killed in the fighting; two Israeli soldiers were killed on Friday (see below). The electricity supply in the Mukata compound has been on and off to the compound and nearby Ramallah areas.
The IDF forces uncovered many vast illegal weapons caches in and near Arafat\'s office, including anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles. These included many Law (Light Anti-Tank Weapons) rockets, RPG shoulder-held rockets, anti-tank rockets, US-manufactured shotguns, automatic weapons, electronic surveillance devices for tracking Israeli military movements, detailed diagrams of local Israeli bases, 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 - and the driver who killed two young Beit El mothers three years ago in a hit-and-run collision; the PA had always refused to hand him over to Israel. 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.
Despite the siege situation, a number of pro-P.A. activists and journalists managed to walk into Arafat\'s office, embrace him, and hear him call for international intervention. He made no mention of the continued murderous attacks on Israeli civilians. The army afterwards declared the area a closed military zone.