The Cabinet convened today and decided that it would not end the anti-terrorism military offensive prematurely, despite international pressures to do so. The operation will apparently last a number of weeks. On the northern front, the government decided to respond severely to the heavy Hizbullah attack of the past two days. Three katyushas rockets were fired on Israeli communities in the north over the holiday - the first incidents of this sort since Israel\'s withdrawal from Lebanon almost two years ago.
It was further decided not to allow EU representatives to meet with Arafat. Regarding American mediator Anthony Zinni\'s request to meet with the arch-terrorist, Prime Minister Sharon will first meet with Zinni this evening, and will then decide. Foreign Minister Shimon Peres has made a public call to allow Zinni to meet with Arafat, and some analysts predict that such a meeting will in fact occur.
The EU delegation that wished to visit with Arafat will arrive in Israel today. Headed by Spain\'s Foreign Minister - Spain holds the rotating presidency of the EU - the members will meet separately with Foreign Minister Peres and Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer, and will demand that Israel withdraw its forces from the PA areas.