JERUSALEM Ñ Israel's military has ended the siege imposed on the
compound of Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat and many of the
fugitives wanted by Israel have escaped.
Israeli officials said the government of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
agreed to respond to U.S. demands for an end to the 10-day siege of Arafat's
office in Ramallah. The officials said the government also lifted a curfew
from Ramallah.
"It is impossible to say no to our big friend [the United States],"
Sharon was quoted as saying in the Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot on Monday.
Several ministers said Sharon collapsed under U.S. pressure. Last
week, the prime minister vowed he would not end the siege of Arafat's
compound until he surrendered 40 Palestinians wanted by Israel.
"We did not properly assess the American reaction when we launched the
operation two weeks ago," Housing Minister Natan Sharansky said.
The Israeli agreement took place on Sunday during a Cabinet meeting to
discuss U.S. demands to end the siege of Arafat's offices. Earlier, Sharon
was briefed by a senior aide sent to Washington to discuss the issue.
By Sunday afternoon, Israeli tanks and armored personnel carriers began
pulling out of Arafat's compound. Military sources said Israeli soldiers
would be posted to monitor the compound and arrest anybody leaving the area.
Hours later, Palestinians armed with rifles were seen leaving Arafat's
compound. Palestinian sources said most of the fugitives sought by Israel
left the compound. Israeli military sources disputed this.
For his part, Arafat rejected the prospect that he would negotiate for
the surrender of the Palestinian fugitives. He reiterated to reporters that
he is "General Arafat" and would not answer such a question.
"You are speaking to General Arafat," Arafat said. "I refuse to speak to
you using this language."
In the northern West Bank, Israeli forces found a Kassam-class
short-range rocket near the town of Jit. A military spokesman said the
rocket was aimed toward the nearby Israeli community of Elon Moreh.
