The Israeli Army bulldozers have stopped their work at Yasser Arafat's Mukata compound in Ramallah, and Arafat and some 200 terrorists - 50 of them wanted - remain holed up in the lone remaining building - which now sports an Israeli flag. There were conflicting reports as to whether PA negotiators had begun to comply with Israel's demand this afternoon to prepare a detailed list of the persons inside. Saeb Erekat, who headed the PA negotiating team, was permitted to meet afterwards with Arafat.
"After the harsh attack in Tel Aviv last week [in which six Jews were murdered]," Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said today, "we reached the conclusion that we have to arrest the terrorist leaders... They must give themselves up; we will not give in on this point." He emphasized that Israel has no intention of harming Arafat. Israel rejected PA suggestions today that the wanted terrorists be imprisoned in Jericho or transferred to Gaza.
Prime Minister Sharon will not allow the European Union's Middle East mediator Migel Mauritinus to meet with the besieged PLO leader. Neither was PA official Abu Mazen permitted to meet with Arafat, in keeping with the policy of keeping the arch-terrorist PLO chief isolated. Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer has allowed Abu Mazen to meet in his Ramallah home with some top PA leaders, however, despite the closure on the city.
Lt.-Col. T., deputy brigade commander of the Benjamin Region, said today that Palestinian claims
concerning water and food shortage in Arafat's compound are false. He said that many weapons were discovered in the compound during the operation.
Popular Arab unrest against Israel's tight siege around Yasser Arafat continues, although it has apparently reached its climax. Fatah has ordered a general strike in the PLO-controlled cities, in an attempt to further ignite the Arab anger - but the order has been fulfilled only partially. Analysts expect that Arafat's popularity will once again decline, once the siege around the Mukata enters a status-quo situation and/or drops from the headlines.
The United Nations Security Council will debate Israel's ongoing siege on Arafat's office tonight. The United States, which wishes to keep Iraq at the center of attention, is making efforts to make it a hurried and general session and to ensure that the matter not be brought to a vote. The PLO representative in the UN will present a demand on behalf of the PA and Arab nations, namely that Israel withdraw from the PLO-controlled cities and especially the Mukata. Israel Radio reporter Yoni Ben-Menachem reports that the PA is disappointed with the Arab response to the Israeli siege, calling it nothing more than "lip service."
"After the harsh attack in Tel Aviv last week [in which six Jews were murdered]," Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said today, "we reached the conclusion that we have to arrest the terrorist leaders... They must give themselves up; we will not give in on this point." He emphasized that Israel has no intention of harming Arafat. Israel rejected PA suggestions today that the wanted terrorists be imprisoned in Jericho or transferred to Gaza.
Prime Minister Sharon will not allow the European Union's Middle East mediator Migel Mauritinus to meet with the besieged PLO leader. Neither was PA official Abu Mazen permitted to meet with Arafat, in keeping with the policy of keeping the arch-terrorist PLO chief isolated. Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer has allowed Abu Mazen to meet in his Ramallah home with some top PA leaders, however, despite the closure on the city.
Lt.-Col. T., deputy brigade commander of the Benjamin Region, said today that Palestinian claims
concerning water and food shortage in Arafat's compound are false. He said that many weapons were discovered in the compound during the operation.
Popular Arab unrest against Israel's tight siege around Yasser Arafat continues, although it has apparently reached its climax. Fatah has ordered a general strike in the PLO-controlled cities, in an attempt to further ignite the Arab anger - but the order has been fulfilled only partially. Analysts expect that Arafat's popularity will once again decline, once the siege around the Mukata enters a status-quo situation and/or drops from the headlines.
The United Nations Security Council will debate Israel's ongoing siege on Arafat's office tonight. The United States, which wishes to keep Iraq at the center of attention, is making efforts to make it a hurried and general session and to ensure that the matter not be brought to a vote. The PLO representative in the UN will present a demand on behalf of the PA and Arab nations, namely that Israel withdraw from the PLO-controlled cities and especially the Mukata. Israel Radio reporter Yoni Ben-Menachem reports that the PA is disappointed with the Arab response to the Israeli siege, calling it nothing more than "lip service."