[Bill Hemmer, Cnn Anchor:] Israel has responded earlier today to attacks, with both military strikes and a diplomatic shun. Israel severed all ties with Yasser Arafat earlier today and launched retaliatory airstrikes on his West Bank headquarters. In Jerusalem now, CNN's Chris Burns is watching everything.
[Chris Burns, Cnn Correspondent:] Heavy armor backs up Israel's tough new crackdown on Palestinian militants, Some within 200 meters of Palestinian leader Arafat's headquarters on the West Bank. They underline Israel's message, that it given up on Arafat cracking down and is doing the job itself. Overnight, Israeli F-16s and helicopter gunships blast Palestinian installations on the West Bank and Gaza, after Palestinian militants kill 10 Israelis. Bombs and rockets fall near Arafat's compounds. Radar and radio facilities are knocked out, further paralyzing him. And another bombshell, this one political, the Israeli cabinet has declared Yasser Arafat no longer relevant and will break off contacts with him. The government also promises to go after to go after Palestinian militants, arrested suspects and confiscating weapons. The measures come hour after Palestinian militants ambush a bus filled with Orthodox Jews near their settlement on the West Bank. As ambulances arrived, they were caught in an ensuing gun battle. When it was over, 10 Israelis lay dead. In the wake of the attack, Arafat says he is shutting down the offices of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, groups the U.S., European Union and Israelis call terror organizations. Too little too late for the Israelis. Another casualty of the conflict could be the U.S.-led mediation effort. The U.S. envoy, General Anthony Zinni, has so far failed to stop the cycle of violence. A 15-month old Palestinian An uprising against Israeli occupation has left more than a thousand dead. Most of them Palestinians. Zinni is again pressing Arafat to crack down harder on militants. Palestinians say the Israeli attacks prevent them from doing that.
[Saeb Erakat, Chief Palestinian Negotiator:] There are those extremist elements in all types who want to sabotage the
[Burns:] The Israelis say they, too, want Zinni to succeed.
[Unidentified Male:] We hope there will a possibility to restore this effort to establish a cease-fire. But one thing must remain clear. We have to take all of necessary measures in order to defend our citizens.
[Burns:] For now, it appears military action is the most likely action, as diplomacy struggles just to stay alive. Chris Burns, CNN Jerusalem.