MIDDLE EAST: Palestinian Authority President Mr Yasser Arafat yesterday reiterated his call to Israel to resume a ceasefire, but intimated he had no intention of moving against militant groups.
Trying to press home his new-found leverage, as a result of Israel's decision last week to "remove" him, he told the mass circulation daily Yediot Ahronot that he was calling on Israel to "renew the truce".
On the ground, violence continued as the Israeli army launched ground raids deep inside Gaza and in the West Bank.
In his third interview in the Israeli media in less than 24 hours, Mr Arafat told the newspaper: "I say to Israelis: enough bloodshed, enough with the destruction and the daily suffering."
The Palestinian leader said progress was being made in efforts to persuade militant groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad to agree to renew the truce that fell apart last month after Israeli-Palestinian violence resumed.
"Up to now, the results are positive, they have a positive approach," Mr Arafat said. But there was no immediate confirmation from the two militant groups that contacts were under way.
Israel has dismissed the idea of another ceasefire, saying the Palestinian Authority must first crush militant groups. Asked whether he was willing to do this, Mr Arafat accused Israel of creating Hamas (in the 1980s) and of carrying out "murderous acts" that "lead to a retaliation".
Revelling in the sympathy and support he has enjoyed - at home and abroad - as a result of the Israeli security cabinet's decision, in principle, to "remove" him, Mr Arafat said he was "not going anywhere" and that he would fight to the death if Israeli troops entered his compound to expel him. "I am here. Sitting with my gun beside me," he told Yediot.
A Palestinian militant was killed and three Israeli soldiers injured, one seriously, when troops moved into the Nuseirat refugee camp in Gaza in the early hours of yesterday morning in what the army said was an operation aimed at arresting a Hamas militant, Jihad Abu Shwairah (34). Shwairah was killed in a shootout with soldiers after he opened fire, an officer said.
In the northern West Bank, large numbers of Israeli troops entered the city of Jenin, and the army said they were likely to be there for several days. Towards evening, soldiers detonated an explosives-laden van the army said was to be used for an attack inside Israel.
In Ramallah, Mr Arafat met leaders of his Fatah movement yesterday to discuss the composition of a new government.