Israeli warplanes attack West Bank and Gaza

 

Israel has attacked targets in the West Bank and Gaza, in apparent retaliation for Friday's Palestinian suicide strike in Tel Aviv which injured more than 20 people. In the West Bank city of Tulkarm, Palestinian security and intelligence service buildings were struck by Isreali missiles. While in Gaza, a security compound was also targetted by Israel's fighter planes, with several casualties reported. The United States is putting ever increasing pressure on the Palestinian Authority to tackle terrorism. U.S Secretary of State, Colin Powell, described this as a "moment of truth" for Yasser Arafat. The Palestinian President remains under virtual house arrest in his Ramallah headquarters because of a blockade by Israeli tanks. His administration has, once again, called on militants to halt attacks on Israel but if that does not happen, it is possible that Washington may consider severing all links with the Palestinian President.