Israel arrest of Force 17 chief signals new Sharon policy

JERUSALEM — Israel has captured a regional chief of the praetorian guard of Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat.

The capture came in an Israeli commando raid in the West Bank in which five members of Arafat's Force 17 guard were detained in a raid on late Saturday. One of them was the regional chief of Force 17.

In all, eight Palestinians were arrested including Talal Nassan, the Force 17 chief.

Israeli officials said the operation was part of a new policy. "As soon as there is a target, and hitting it will prevent new terrorist attacks, it has to be struck," Transportation Minister Ephraim Sneh, a member of the security Cabinet, said.

During a Cabinet meeting, Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi called on Israel to bomb Arafat's home. The appeal was rejected by other Israeli ministers.

Palestinian sources said the raid was executed by an Israeli commando squad that drove a military vehicle with Palestinian license plates near the West Bank city of Ramallah. They said this marked an escalation of what they term the effort by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to end the more than six-month-old mini-war with the Palestinians.

Force 17 commanders warned that they would avenge the capture. Force 17 commander Mahmoud Awad said the Israeli operation was a violation of Palestinian sovereignty.

For their part, Israeli military sources said the Force 17 squad is responsible for shooting attacks on Israeli motorists in the West Bank. They said several Israelis were killed and wounded in the attacks.

Overnight Monday, an Israeli sergeant was killed in fighting with Palestinians near the West Bank city of Nablus. Fighting was also reported around Bethlehem, Hebron, Jenin and in the Gaza Strip.

In Hebron, the Israeli military said Israelis detonated a gas tank in a store owned by a Palestinian. Several Israeli police officers were reported to be lightly injured.

In Jerusalem, a Palestinian attacked a woman soldier, grabbed her army-issued M-16 rifle and fled. The rifle was later found in a nearby field.

Earlier, the Israeli Cabinet extended the term of Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Shaul Mofaz for another year. This means that Mofaz will serve four years as Israel's military chief.