Israel, Palestinians 'at war'

JERUSALEM -- The death toll in the mini-war between Israel and the Palestinian Authority is rising.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and PA Chairman Yasser Arafat held what were described as "intense diplomatic contact," but failed to stop the violence. Both men also spoke to U.S. President Bill Clinton and White House officials said delegations from all three countries plan to meet to examine the reason for the violence as soon as the fighting subsides.

"With all the sadness, we know that the violence erupted because of the Palestinian Authority," Barak said. "Soldiers and commanders have been directed to use all means to protect the lives of the soldiers. We will use what is required."

PA officials said they expected the violence to continue and asserted that in some cases they have lost control of Palestinian gunmen. "The situation continues to deteriorate," Col. Jibril Rajoub, PA security chief in the West Bank, said. "We are at war."

The casualty toll on Monday afternoon was reported at 42 dead and more than 1,000 injured as violence continued. All but two of the dead were Palestinians. One of the Palestinians was Jihad Alul, 20, the son of the PA governor of Nablus, Col. Mahmoud Alul.

PA Information Minister Yasser Abbed Rabbo said U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright plans to arrive in the Middle East to negotiate an end to the fighting. U.S. and Israeli officials denied this.

On Monday, a 24 year-old Israeli man was shot dead in his car near the West Bank village of Bidya, 20 kilometers west of the Jewish settlement of Ariel. Clashes between Palestinians and Israeli troops quickly spread throughout the West Bank cities of Bethlehem, Hebron, Jenin and Tulkarm.

Palestinians, led by PA officials, hurled rocks at troops and burned tires. Israeli troops fired rubber bullets at the demonstrators and closed roads to Israeli motorists.

In Gaza, Palestinians hurled stones at soldiers near the Jewish settlements of Kfar Darom and Neve Dekalim. Earlier, Israeli attack helicopters fired anti-tank missiles at Palestinian Authority buildings. Two PA officers were killed in Rafiah.

Israeli military sources raised the prospect that Arafat might allow Hamas squads to bomb Israeli civilian targets as part of his effort to force the Jewish state to concede on such final status issues as Jerusalem.

Arafat's decision to encourage violence, the sources said, came after the controversial visit by opposition Likud chairman Ariel Sharon and the death of four Palestinians on the Temple Mount on Friday.

"We're prepared for all possibilities under the circumstances," Arafat told the Saudi daily Okaz. "The Palestinian people have many options at their disposal."

Israeli Arab citizens were recruited in the battle against the Jewish state as well. Riots were reported in Arab cities throughout the country. The fiercest clashes were in the Islamic-dominated city of Umm El Fahm.

In the West Bank, the bloodiest battles took place in Nablus and Ramallah. In Nablus, two attack helicopters failed to rescue besieged Israeli troops in Joseph's Tomb, the religious site that contains a Jewish seminary. Israeli tanks were deployed outside Nablus.

Palestinian sources reported five Palestinians were killed and 30 injured in Nablus. One Israeli soldier was killed during the battle for Joseph's Tomb. Military sources said the soldier bled to death when efforts to evacuate him failed.