Ben-Eliezer hints at more raids if terror continues

A defiant Yasser Arafat emerged from his Ramallah compound Thursday, after the IDF staged a six-hour incursion, during which six buildings were destroyed and a member of the Palestinian Authority chairman's presidential guard was killed.

"No-one can defeat the Palestinian people," said Arafat.

Defense Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer said Thursday that the operation was designed to demonstrate to Arafat that Israel holds the Palestinian Authority - and Arafat personally - responsible for terror attacks against Israeli citizens. Ben-Eliezer added that Arafat and the PA are doing nothing to halt the current wave of terror attacks.

Ben-Eliezer also hinted that similar operations would be carried out in ther future. "We cannot turn a blind eye to these terror attacks, and the security forces and the IDF will take every step to end the terror."