General 'threatens' Arafat strike

Violent protests marked Israel's 52nd anniversary

Palestinian officials have reacted angrily to what they say were threats by a top Israeli general to attack Yasser Arafat's headquarters.

Brigadier-General Shlomo Oren is said to have issued the threat after the worst rioting in two years swept the West Bank and Gaza.

Hundreds of Palestinians were wounded

Senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said General Oren had warned that combat helicopters would be sent in to the West Bank town of Ramallah - where Mr Arafat has his HQ - if Palestinian police did not stop firing at his troops.

But the head of the Israeli army central command, Major-General Moshe Yaalon, described the Palestinian accusations as "inaccurate, to put it mildly".

Mr Erekat said he had filed an official complaint, asking for General Oren to be prosecuted.

The threat by General Oren was apparently made at a late-night meeting with the head of Palestinian security forces, General Haj Ismail.

'Cynical' evasion

But Major-General Yaalon said General Oren, the Israeli military commander in the West Bank, had not even mentioned Mr Arafat's name during the meeting.

He told Israeli radio: "[The Palestinians'] behaviour, their lack of control over their forces, and the shooting that they carried out... almost brought him to send Israeli combat helicopters towards the headquarters in Ramallah."

He said the Palestinian account was a cynical attempt to evade responsibility for the violence, which has continued for five days.

At least three Palestinians were killed and hundreds of people were wounded, including more than 20 Israelis

The rioting also sparked gun battles between Israeli and Palestinian security forces.

Prison fast

Israeli cabinet ministers have played down General Oren's reported remarks, saying they did not represent government policy.

The row, and the past week of explosive violence, threatens to strain still further already tense relations between the two sides as a round of negotiations is due to kick off in Stockholm aimed at forging a final peace deal by September.

Tension looks set to continue as the Palestinians say they have called for two "days of rage" to express solidarity with hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

Mr Erekat has cancelled a meeting with Israelis expected for Thursday to discuss the delayed transfer of three Jerusalem suburbs to full Palestinian control.