Arafat police HQ bombed

GAZA - Israeli warplanes bombed the Palestinian Authority's main police headquarters yesterday, wounding at least 18 people in fresh retaliation for suicide attacks.

The air strike in Gaza City reduced two four-storey buildings to rubble.

The impact of the blasts shook people out of their beds and shattered windows hundreds of metres from the scene.

The bombardment marked the end of a two-day pause in Israel's air campaign against Palestinian security targets in response to suicide bombings in Jerusalem and Haifa that killed 25 people last weekend.

It happened just hours before Israeli and Palestinian officials were due to restart security talks arranged by US peace envoy Anthony Zinni. It appeared unlikely the talks would go ahead.

Israel has warned it will step up its military strikes until Palestinian President Yasser Arafat acts against all militants threatening the Jewish state's security. The Israeli Army said in a statement that yesterday's raid was aimed against "Palestinian Authority bodies that support and aid terrorist activity".

Palestinian public security chief, Major General Abdel-Razek al-Majaydeh, said: "The Israeli attack has destroyed our entire effort to restore calm ... It will only lead to an escalation of tension."

The day before, Palestinian police, many from the same compound, had battled armed supporters of militant Islamic group Hamas after Arafat put their spiritual leader, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, under house arrest. One Hamas supporter was shot dead.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has accused Arafat of making only token arrests in response to Israeli and US demands for a crackdown on militants behind a wave of attacks.

But Arafat has said Israel's attacks on his security installations have hampered efforts to round up militants.

The latest target was the police headquarters for Palestinian-ruled areas in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, housing the offices of the Palestinian Authority's police chief.

Majaydeh said the security compound was hit by bombs dropped by Israeli F-16s. The explosions destroyed administrative offices and a police barracks, a Palestinian police spokesman said. Most security officers have stayed away from their offices for fear of Israeli air raids.

Israeli warplanes attacked Palestinian targets in the West Bank and Gaza Strip on Monday and Tuesday in the Jewish state's fiercest air campaign in the 14-month conflict.

Hamas claimed responsibility for last weekend's suicide attacks, saying it was to avenge Israel's killing of one of its military leaders.

But Israel blamed Arafat, saying he and his security forces allowed militants to operate with impunity. Sharon has said Israel's campaign is intended to force Arafat to take action.

Palestinian officials have accused the right-wing Israeli leader of trying to topple Arafat and destroy the Palestinian Authority.

Israel launched that latest attack hours after Zinni met Arafat in the West Bank city of Ramallah as part of talks to prevent the violence from spiralling out of control.

Washington sent Zinni to the region last week to launch a fresh mission to end the violence - an issue it regards as vital to its efforts to cement Arab support for its war on terrorism in Afghanistan.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher also had talks with both sides on Thursday in an attempt to ease tensions.

At least 748 Palestinians and 222 Israelis have died since a Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation erupted in September last year.

Zinni's first round of talks last week yielded no breakthroughs, and his peace mission was quickly overshadowed by the violence.

Palestinian officials said Arafat had pressed Zinni to stop the Israeli air strikes and persuade Israel to end its occupation in the West Bank and Gaza.

US President George W. Bush said this week that Israel had a "right to act in self-defence".

- REUTERS

Feature: Middle East

Map

UN: Information on the Question of Palestine

Israel's Permanent Mission to the UN

Palestine's Permanent Observer Mission to the UN

Middle East Daily

Arabic News

Arabic Media Internet Network

Jerusalem Post

Israel Wire

US Department of State - Middle East Peace Process