The Israeli missile attacks on Palestinian targets have left the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat seriously weakened.

The attacks, which came in response to Palestinian suicide bombings at the weekend, reportedly destroyed three of his helicopters, limiting his freedom of movement.

But when the missiles smashed into his empty helicopters they did more than just physical damage.

Beleaguered and depressed, Yasser Arafat now has two choices - to co-operate with the Israelis and crack down even harder on Islamic militants suspected of planning attacks on Israelis - or to join the militants themselves.

Either choice could well spell his own death sentence.

No half-measures

If Mr Arafat continues to arrest the militants he risks sparking a Palestinian civil war.

If he opts for armed resistance then the Israelis will likely assassinate him within hours.

In the end, Yasser Arafat will probably do what he has always done. He will try to fudge the issue by making some arrests, but not quite enough to threaten his own power base.

Now though, the Israelis are saying that such half measures are not enough, that more effective action is needed.

In the words of the US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, Mr Arafat is now facing his moment of truth.