Israeli papers demand clearer goals

Israel's daily newspapers have called on the government to make very clear the final goal of the war it has declared on Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

If the goal is to bring Arafat to his knees begging for a ceasefire, then why were 20,000 reservists called up?

"The public has a duty to ask the questions that the ministers aren't asking - both to understand and to place clear boundaries on the prime minister, the defence minister and the army's chief of staff," says the editorial of the central-right daily tabloid Maariv.

"If the goal is to bring Arafat to his knees begging for a ceasefire, then why were 20,000 reservists called up? Regular army units should suffice.

"If the goal is to conquer large areas and remain in them, it has to be declared clearly - at least to the cabinet ministers - as they might reconsider their vote," the paper continues.