Sharon policy focues on Palestinian Authority, not Palestinians

JERUSALEM — Israel has launched what officials said is a new policy that holds the Palestinian Authority as responsible for attacks against the Jewish state.

Officials said the policy is meant to strike the interests of PA Chairman Yasser Arafat while limiting restrictions on the Palestinian population. They said the policy was launched in a military offensive against Arafat installations on Wednesday evening.

"The government's guiding principle is constant and persistent action against the terrorists, as well as against those who both dispatch and assist them," an Israeli Cabinet statement said. "The policy will be directed at terrorist elements."

Israeli sources said the military has drawn up a list of Palestinian targets. The government of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has approved the option of future attacks, they said.

"We won't wait for attacks," National Infrastructure Minister Avigdor Lieberman said. "We will engage in many initiatives."

The Israeli attack came hours after the latest Palestinian bombing in Israel, the third in a 24-hour period. Israeli attack helicopters fired missiles toward installations of Force 17, Arafat's praetorian guard, said to have coordinated the bombing attacks against Israel.

Two Palestinians were killed and 60 were injured in the Israeli attack, PA sources said. The targets were located in Ramallah, Gaza City, Dir El Balah, and Khan Yunis.

One target attacked by Israeli helicopters was 50 meters from Arafat's office in Gaza. Arafat was in the Jordanian capital of Amman during the attack and PA officials did not know when he will return to Gaza.

Still, some Israeli ministers said they still hope to resume peace talks with the Palestinians. "I don't see Yasser Arafat as an enemy," Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said. "I see him as somebody who has made mistakes."

For his part, Arafat returned to Ramallah on Thursday to review the damage from the Israeli attacks. Arafat accused Israel of launching a 100-day campaign against the Palestinians. At the same time, Palestinian sources said three Palestinians were killed during a clash with Israeli troops at the Erez terminal in the northern Gaza Strip.

In Washington, the Bush administration expressed understanding of the Israeli strike. Israeli officials said Sharon notified U.S. President George Bush, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordan's King Abdullah after the attack on the PA.