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IDF troops entered Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat's compound in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Friday afternoon, taking control of most of the buildings in the complex.
An IDF spokesman said that the troops carried out a room-to-room search of the compound and arrested at least 70 people, who are currently being questioned by security forces.
The troops also seized a large number of weapons, including anti-tank missiles, forbidden under the terms of the Oslo accords, as well as equipment used by the Palestinians to eavesdrop on Israeli telephone conversations.
An IDF soldier - 22-year-old First Lieutenant Boaz Pomerantz from Kiryat Shmona - was killed during an exchange of fire with Palestinians in Ramallah. Five soldiers were also wounded.
Palestinian sources said that IDF troops blasted a hole in the wall of the compound before entering. Five Palestinians were killed, among them at least two civilians, and 20 were injured during the operation. An IDF spokesman said its soldiers were responding to gunshots fired at them from inside the compound.
IDF bulldozers, assisted by tanks, demolished three PA buildings north of Arafat's office.
Palestinian television broadcast that IDF troops had taken over intelligence and security buildings in the compound, Israel Radio reported. The troops also seized control of the prison holding the suspects in the assassination of Israeli cabinet minister Rehavam Ze'evi last October.
Arafat's office comes under fire
GOC Central Command, Major General Yitzhak Eitan, told reporters in Jerusalem on Friday that IDF troops had taken control of all the buildings in a specified area of the compound, close to Arafat's living quarters. Eitan stressed that the no order had been given to move into Arafat's offices proper.
"We haven't yet entered Arafat's offices," said Colonel Gil Hirsch, a senior officer in the Central Command.
The Palestinian leader's office, however, came under heavy IDF fire Friday afternoon. Palestinian Information Minister Yasser Abed said that IDF tanks fired at Arafat's private office, putting his life in danger.
"They are firing directly at Arafat's office. They are targeting him. His life is in danger. The situation is very, very dangerous," Abed Rabbo said.
Abed Rabbo said Arafat had been moved to another office on a lower floor of the building as his security guards battled IDF troops. Israel Radio reported that the PA chairman was phoning Arab leaders in a bid to get them to exert pressure to halt the IDF operation.
Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah said Friday afternoon that he had received a promise from the United States that Arafat would not be harmed.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon announced Friday at a press conference in Jerusalem that his government had decided on a policy of isolating the PA leader, in an eight-hour cabinet session that began late Thursday night.
The government also decided that the army would mobilize over 10,000 reservists - an indication that the planned military operation in the territories, which began late overnight Thursday in Ramallah, is expected to be wide-ranging and drawn out.
Sharon said later Friday that the operation would continue for weeks, if not longer. He also called on all Israelis to unite behind the government, saying he expected mounting international pressure over the military operation.
Israeli security sources said that the incursion into Ramallah was likely to be a long-term operation - not a short-term, symbolic one - and was aimed at destroying the terror infrastructure there.
The sources also said Thursday that Israel had abandoned its policy of restraint, which had been in force over the past two weeks, ever since the arrival of American envoy Anthony Zinni. "There is no longer such a thing as a unilateral cease-fire," the source said.
Powell: U.S. envoy to remain in region
United States Secretary of State Colin Powell said Friday that American envoy Anthony Zinni will remain in the region, despite the recent deterioration. "We must have hope," he said, adding that he had been in touch with Sharon, although he had not managed to talk to Arafat.
He called on Sharon to "carefully consider the consequences" of the operation in Ramallah, although, he said, he appreciated Israel's right to defend itself. The secretary of state also expressed the U.S. condemnation of the recent terror attacks, in which 30 people were killed. He called on Arab leaders to also strongly condemn terrorism.
Powell said that he had received Sharon's pledge that Arafat would not be killed, and stressed that Arafat was the leader of the Palestinian people, and as such should do more to end the terror.
Powell said that he was in touch with leaders in the Arab world and in Europe and said he would be speaking to United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan very shortly. |
