Israel braces for imminent Palestinian terror

JERUSALEM — Israel is bracing for what security officials assert are plans for massive riots and terrorist attacks over the weekend.

Officials said the terrorist attacks are imminent and are meant to avenge Israeli air strikes against Palestinian Authority targets in Gaza and Ramallah on Thursday. The strikes were in retaliation for the killing of three Israeli soldiers by a mob in Ramallah.

Both PA officials and Islamic opposition leaders pledged to retaliate for the Israeli attacks. ''Our people don't care, and don't hesitate to continue their march to Jerusalem, their capital of the independent Palestinian state," PA Chairman Yasser Arafat said.

On Friday, Israel deployed tanks outside every major Palestinian city and closed the West Bank and Gaza. Helicopters patrolled the skies over both Israel and the Palestinian territories.

Overnight Friday, Israeli and Palestinian forces clashed throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Shootouts were reported in Hebron and Nablus and in the second destruction in a week of a Jewish holy site, a Palestinian mob torched an ancient synagogue in Jericho.

In response, Israeli helicopters attacked a PA police academy in Jericho.

Prime Minister Ehud Barak warned the PA not to strike Israeli soldiers or civilians. Barak explained the operation to U.S. President Bill Clinton and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Israeli diplomatic sources said Mubarak has dropped his opposition and agrees to host a summit of Clinton, Barak and Arafat.

"I have directed the security forces to do all that is needed, all that is needed, to foil attacks," Barak said. "There could be worse days. But we will not lose the hope. I'm not sure we are in war with the Palestinians. But we are in a violent confrontation."

Cabinet ministers criticized the Israeli operation as being insufficient to stop the PA. Barak said Israel attacked the headquarters of the armed wing of Arafat's Fatah movement.

The PA Cabinet, in an emergency meeting on late Thursday, called on the Arab and international community to help the Palestinians. Arafat said he regarded the Israeli attacks as a declaration of war as his Fatah party has launched what it termed a full mobilization of its estimated 20,000 gunmen.

"He [Arafat] realizes it is a war, an Israeli war on our land and our people and we are treating it as such," PA International Cooperation Minister Nabil Shaath said.

PA sources said Arafat's private home in Gaza was also struck by Israeli missile boats. An Israeli military spokesman denied that Arafat's office or home were targeted.

An Israeli commander said the PA was given three hours notice before attack helicopters struck their targets. Maj. Gen. Giora Eiland, head of the military's operations directorate, said helicopters targeted the PA coast guard, headquarters of the armed faction of ruling Fatah party and PA radio. The helicopters fired anti-tank missiles, Eiland said.

"The message, as we wanted to relay it, has been sent," Eiland said.

In Ramallah, witnesses said Cobra attack helicopters targeted PA security installations in the West Bank city some four hours after the Israeli soldiers were killed. The main target appeared to be the police station where the Israeli soldiers were stabbed and beaten to death by a mob.

Israeli commanders said initial reports that four Israeli soldiers were captured or killed appear to be incorrect. They said they have information on only two victims. But Cabinet ministers said a third Israeli soldier might have been killed.