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Israeli Helicopters Target Arafat's Fatah
Israel launched helicopter missile attacks on three headquarters of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's Fatah faction in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, saying it would not tolerate a burgeoning guerrilla war.
There were no immediate reports of casualties or serious damage after what Israeli Army Radio described as pinpoint attacks on Monday on buildings that were empty late at night.
``Since the Palestinians are beginning to wage something that approximates a guerrilla war, our helicopter attack was a signal that if there is one, we have the answer to it,'' Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh said on television.
A wave of violence that began more than a month ago with clashes during mass demonstrations by Palestinians has settled into a pattern of daily attacks by armed militiamen on Israeli army posts and settlements in the Gaza Strip and West Bank.
Sneh described the rocketing of Fatah buildings in the West Bank towns of Nablus and Ramallah, and on Fatah's elite Force 17 militia in Khan Yunis in the Gaza Strip, as ``a warning operation.''
Palestinians would ``pay a price'' for Lebanon-style guerrilla warfare, he said, referring to daily attacks Israeli occupation forces faced from Lebanese Hizbollah gunmen before ending a 22-year occupation of southern Lebanon last May.
Fatah militiamen have been on the front line of confrontations with Israeli forces in the unrest that began on September 28. At least 148 people, mainly Palestinians, have been killed in the violence.
An Israeli security guard was shot dead in Arab East Jerusalem on Monday by what police said was a Palestinian gunman. The bodies of two other Israelis -- one was stabbed and the other shot -- were found in the West Bank over the weekend.
Prime Minister Ehud Barak, addressing the opening of parliament's winter session earlier on Monday, said Israel would not tolerate attacks on its soldiers and citizens.
``We will do everything to protect (them) and attack anyone who wants to kill us -- I will say no more,'' he said. After his speech he convened his security chiefs, apparently to put the helicopter operation into motion.
Defiant Palestinians Blast ``Israeli Aggression''
The Palestinian leadership reacted with anger and defiance to the helicopter strikes.
``The Israeli aggression against our people is escalating in accordance with Barak's plans,'' said Tayeb Abdel-Rahim, a senior Arafat aide.
``This provocation will only increase our people's steadfastness and determination to confront these attackers,'' he said.
In Ramallah, two flashes lit the night sky as the rockets struck. They punched holes in the facade of the Fatah headquarters, where water dripped from a pipe broken by the blast. A photo of Arafat still hung on the wall.
After the attack, residents gathered in the town's main square, chanting ``With blood and spirit, we will redeem you, Palestine.''
The army said the Fatah headquarters it attacked were used by gunmen who carried out hundreds of shootings.
``Tonight's operation was part of a military initiative to strike directly at elements responsible for escalating the violence,'' it said in a statement.
Army chief of staff Shaul Mofaz said on Sunday the army should ``move to a level where our operations are more initiated and less retaliatory.''
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