Military

DATE=03/29/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=ISRAEL / PALESTINIANS (L UPDATE)

NUMBER=2-288127

BYLINE=MEREDITH BUEL

DATELINE=JERUSALEM

CONTENT=

VOICE AT:

/// UPDATES CR 2-288117, BY ROSS DUNN ///

INTRO: The Israeli government has declared Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat an "enemy" and has sent troops into his compound in the West Bank. V-O-A Correspondent Meredith Buel in Jerusalem reports at least four Palestinians and one Israeli officer have been killed during the raid.

TEXT: Israeli tanks shelled Mr. Arafat's walled compound in Ramallah and troops seized buildings inside the facility. A structure next to the Palestinian leader's office caught fire, but aides say Mr. Arafat was not hurt in the assault.

In a telephone interview with the Arab satellite T-V station Al Jazeera, a defiant Mr. Arafat said Israel wanted him "under arrest, in exile or dead." In the Palestinian chairman's words, "I am telling them, I prefer to be martyred."

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told reporters in Jerusalem the Israeli government now considers Mr. Arafat an enemy of the Jewish state.

/// SHARON ACT ///

We regard Chairman Arafat as an enemy because he decided about a strategy of terror and formed a coalition of terror. Therefore, he is going to be isolated.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Sharon says the Israeli military will carry out widespread operations and reserve forces will be called up for active duty.

The decision came after more than 20 people died earlier this week in a Palestinian suicide bombing in the town of Netanya. In separate attacks Thursday and Friday, Palestinian militants killed six Jewish settlers.

Late Thursday, Mr. Arafat said he is ready for a ceasefire, but did not declare an immediate truce.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat charged the Israelis with declaring an all-out war on the Palestinian people.

/// EREKAT ACT ///

You have to keep in mind that violence will breed violence, bullets will breed bullets, extremism will breed extremism, and I am afraid that Sharon's actions today are pushing the Palestinians and Israelis deeper and deeper into this vicious cycle of violence and killings and bloodshed.

/// END ACT ///

The latest violence is a serious threat to U-S Middle East envoy Anthony Zinni's efforts to broker a ceasefire to end 18-months of Israeli-Palestinian bloodshed. (Signed)

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