News Israel cuts off ties with 'irrelevant' Arafat

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Israel cut off ties with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat Dec. 13 after a series of attacks left 10 Israelis dead.

In simultaneous attacks Dec. 12, Palestinians ambushed a bus in the West Bank, setting off a bomb and spraying the bus and nearby cars with gunfire, while two Palestinian suicide bombers blew themselves up next to Israeli vehicles in the Gaza Strip. The attacks left 10 Israelis dead and another 30 wounded.

After meeting in special session Dec. 13, Israel's Security Cabinet declared Arafat "irrelevant" and charged him with responsibility for the attacks.

In response, Israeli helicopters targeted Arafat's West Bank headquarters in Ramallah and other sites in Gaza, Palestinian security officials said.

Palestinian Health Ministry officials said 40 people were hurt in the Israeli retaliations.

Israeli Justice Minister Meir Sheetrit said Israel had reached "the moment of truth in its struggle with Palestinian terror."

Israel does not intend to conduct any meetings with the Palestinian Authority

"There will be no meetings of the (joint) security committees. There is no one to talk to," Sheetrit declared

The escalating violence by both sides may mean the end to peace talks led by U.S. envoy Anthony Zinni

イスラエル、アラファト議長と絶縁

イスラエル政府は13日、アラファト・パレスチナ自治政府議長との関係断絶を宣言した。

Shukan ST: Dec. 21, 2001

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