Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer stated on Sunday that the cabinet decision to take over the Orient House and other PA offices sends a message to PA leader Yasser Arafat that he does have something to lose. The defense minister said that while the PA will work with unyielding tenacity to enlist the support of the international community against Israel, the bottom line is that Arafat now understands that ongoing terrorism will result in significant losses of strategic importance. Ben-Eliezer said that this would ultimately prompt Arafat to do a great deal more to thwart attacks.



Police Chief Miki Levy revealed today that the order to seize Orient House extends for only 6 months.