Europe urges Israeli restraint

Israeli attacks are said to have wounded 100 people

Europe has urged Israel not to wipe out the Palestinian Authority in its efforts to clamp down on terrorism.

A "measured and proportionate" response to terrorism was needed, the European Commission said in a statement, as Israel launched some of its most severe attacks in the current wave of unrest.

Some European foreign ministers went further than the official statement - with France accusing Israel of appearing to conducting a deliberate policy aimed at destroying the Palestinian Authority.

We call on Israel for a measured and proportionate response within respect of the rule of law

EC spokesman Gunnar Wiegand

The EU statement said Israel had a right to defend itself, but said the Palestinian Authority was necessary.

"The Israeli Government and the Israeli people need the Palestinian Authority to fight extremists and as a partner for peace," said commission spokesman Gunnar Wiegand.

"While the right of the Israeli Government to defend itself against terrorism is recognised, at the same time we call on Israel for a measured and proportionate response within respect of the rule of law."

I fear that there's a real worst case policy behind that to eliminate the Palestinian Authority

French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine

He called the Palestinian attacks "odious" and said Mr Arafat should take visible steps to arrest the perpetrators.

French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine said Israel risked a "fatal error" if the authority was weakened or elimiated.

"Arafat has been weakened by the harassment of the Israeli army ... and as a result people are using his weakness as an argument to say that since he can not re-establish order in his own camp, he should in some way be eliminated," Mr Vedrine said.

"Sadly, it looks like a deliberate policy," he said.

Arafat was in the complex when the Israeli planes struck

"I fear that there's a real worst case policy behind that to eliminate the Palestinian Authority," he said.

Spain's Foreign Minister, Josep Pique, said on a visit to Iran that he condemned Israel's action, but also the suicide bombs.

"Even as we condemn these (Israel's) actions, we do not accept the recent terrorist attacks," Mr Pique said during a visit to Tehran.

With whom do the Israelis want to make peace if not with Arafat? With Hamas? With Islamic Jihad?

EU official

Some European officials also pointed out that the alternatives to Mr Arafat could be harder for Israel to deal with.

"With whom do the Israelis want to make peace if not with Arafat? With Hamas? With Islamic Jihad?" one EU official said.

German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, who has been influential in easing previous Middle East crises, described the situation as "very, very serious".

He spoke to Mr Arafat and Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, but sources said afterwards he saw little basis for resolving the crisis.

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana was also reported to have held emergency talks with several Middle East leaders.

Turkish anger

Turkey's Prime Minister, Bulent Ecevit, said Israel's demand for absolute calm before talks was "unrealistic".

"Sharon is determined to implement very excessive, unjust measures against the Palestinian Authority," he said.

"If this turns into an actual war, it may lead to a situation that could be more dangerous than the one in Afghanistan, particularly for our region," he said.

The UK's Tony Blair said he had expressed sympathy to Israel over the suicide attacks.