Israel digs in around Arafat HQ amid world censure

12.45pm - By WAFA AMR

RAMALLAH - Israeli troops dug in around Yasser Arafat's headquarters on today amid rising Palestinian fury at the siege on their leader which has drawn international censure, even from the Jewish state's main ally.

The United States said the Israeli operation, which has devastated Arafat's presidential complex in the West Bank city of Ramallah, was "not helpful" to Middle East peacemaking.

Israeli troops shot dead four Palestinian protesters on Sunday as thousands took to the streets in the West Bank and Gaza Strip to demonstrate against the siege.





Israel insists it means Arafat no harm, but will stay put until some 50 suspected militants believed holed up with him surrender. It calls the army operation "A Matter of Time".

The assault on Arafat's already battered presidential complex, launched last week after two suicide bombings killed seven people in Israel, could complicate US plans for possible war on Iraq.

The regional link was not lost on Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who said in a speech on Sunday that the "Palestinian Authority leadership and (its) terror...bring destruction to their own people like Saddam Hussein in Iraq".

Palestinians, some of them armed, turned out en masse to rally for their leader on Sunday. Buoyed by the support, Arafat vowed never to yield.

Hatem Abdel Khader, a Palestinian aide who spoke to Arafat by telephone, said: "He reiterated he will not kneel before Sharon and has issued an order to his men that no one may surrender from the building."

Despite his defiance, Arafat looks more isolated politically than at any time since he returned to the region from exile in 1994. Troops besieging his base have razed most of the headquarters, a symbol of his power.

In a sign the standoff could be protracted, the Israeli army said on Sunday it had delivered provisions to the shattered compound, whose staffers have been hardened by previous offensives.

The rise in tensions amid the siege, suicide bombings and street protests has further dented hopes of ending violence that has killed at least 1,555 Palestinians and 599 Israelis since September 2000, after peace talks stalled.

The United States on Sunday repeated its misgivings over Israel's actions in Ramallah.

"Israeli actions in and around the Muqata (headquarters) are not helpful in reducing terrorist violence or promoting Palestinian reforms," a White House spokeswoman said.

Britain said it was lodging a formal protest with Israel, in the latest European censure of the Israeli siege.

But Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat expressed regret at the lack of international concern.

"All our contacts with the Israelis, Europeans and Americans have failed to produce any tangible results," he said.

Palestinian Labour Minister Ghassan al-Khatib suggested the siege could backfire by rallying support for Arafat among his disgruntled population.

"It is strengthening Arafat. It is giving (him) public sympathy and public credibility," he said.

Photos released by the Palestinian Authority showed a grim-looking Arafat perusing documents, with bottles of mineral water on his desk and his holstered gun placed behind him.

The Palestinians deny harbouring "terrorists" at the headquarters and say they fear the operation's aim is to kill Arafat. Israel has consistently denied this.

"Yasser Arafat is free to go. He is not the issue," said an Israeli government spokesman.

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