At the end of a dramatic and stormy cabinet session, Israel's government declared that the Palestinian Authority was a "terror-supporting entity" and vowed to act accordingly. The Tanzim and Force 17 were determined to be terrorist organizations. Labor Party ministers stormed out of the meeting in protest, threatening the stability of the national unity government.

The government empowered the Ministerial Committee for National Security (security cabinet) to take operational steps against the Palestinian Authority, and against the Tanzim and Force 17 organizations. Many of the decisions approved overnight by the government had originally been reached, but not implemented, following the assassination of Tourism Minister Rechavam Ze'evi in mid-October. The government's declaration was the strongest statement ever issued against the PA and its direct responsibility for the recent wave of terror attacks.

The government called for military responses more "wide-

"Arafat is responsible for everything that happens here" - PM Ariel Sharon

ranging" than those previously taken against acts of Palestinian terrorism. The cabinet session took place after the IAF had already sent a "strong message" to Arafat by destroying his helicopters at the Gaza City heliport and by launching missiles at his headquarters in Jenin.

The government said its decisions were subject to change if the Palestinian Authority fulfilled its commitments to prevent and foil terrorism, punish terrorists and dismantle terrorist organizations. Israel's information campaign would focus on Arafat's responsibility for the terrorism emanating from areas under his control, an official statement said.

"These actions are designed to cause the collapse of the Palestinian Authority," declared Foreign Affairs Minister Shimon Peres, who led the Labor walkout. Peres had pushed for compromise wording suggested by Justice Minister Meir Sheetrit (Likud). But the other ministers, led by National Infrastructure Minister Avigdor Lieberman (National Union), refused to budge and were only willing to stop short of their demand for Arafat's expulsion from the territories.

After the Labor ministers left the room, the government decision passed by a vote of 18-1, with Minister without portfolio Dan Meridor (Center Party) casting the lone dissenting vote. Sheetrit abstained in the vote.

The Cabinet declaration means that Israeli officials can only meet with members of the Palestinian Authority for the purpose of obtaining a cease-fire, said Danny Ayalon, a political adviser to Sharon.

Peres announced after the cabinet meeting that he was considering the future of the Labor Party in the national unity government. Minister without portfolio Raanan Cohen stated that Labor would not leave the government, but Knesset Speaker Avraham Burg, who is not a member of the government, told Israel Radio that Labor should leave the coalition in light of the cabinet decision.

Sharon: Arafat personally responsible for terrorism
Earlier, Sharon stated that Arafat had forced a war upon Israel and was personally responsible for "everything that was happening." In a televised announcement, his first public statement since the recent terrorist attacks that left 26 Israelis dead and more than 200 injured, Sharon declared that Israel was engaged in a war against terror.

"This war of terror, as in the past, has been forced upon us," Sharon stated. "Arafat is responsible for everything that happens here. Arafat has made his strategic choices: a strategy of terrorism, in choosing to try and win political accomplishments through murder and in choosing to allow the ruthless killing of innocent civilians, Arafat has chosen the path of terrorism," he said.

Sharon said that Arafat was "the greatest obstacle to peace and stability in the Middle East." He vowed that Israel would "pursue those responsible, the perpetrators of terrorism and the supporters. We will pursue them until we catch them, and they will pay the price," Sharon said.

The Palestinian Authority denied Israel's charges that it was a "terror-supporting entity." Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo said Tuesday that Israel's occupation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip was "the source of terrorism" and Israel's actions were making the prospects of peace even more remote.

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