Israeli minister calls for all-out assault on Palestinians

An Israeli minister says the country should send its army into Palestinian-controlled areas and destroy the entire military infrastructure there.

Infrastructure Minister Avigdor Lieberman said the move would put an end to Palestinian violence.

He said that the Israeli army should take over the Palestinian territories for 48 hours, attack police and militia headquarters, posts and arsenals and "not leave one stone on top of another".

Along with the military measures, he called for sweeping economic assistance to the Palestinians, building a seaport, power stations and industries.

Since fighting began last September, 431 people have been killed on the Palestinian side and 72 on the Israeli side.

Lieberman, who represents the ultra-nationalist Israel Beitenu party, said Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has not been tough enough.

He said: "I'm tired of hearing that we need stamina, we need patience, ability to stand up to a long conflict. We need to be more decisive. We must replace the stick with a spiked iron club."

Lieberman also suggested setting up four separate Palestinian enclaves instead of a single authority, adding: "I prefer Gaza to be an extension of Hong Kong rather than Teheran."

There has been no immediate response from Sharon's office to Lieberman's proposals.

In recent weeks Israel's army has carried out several limited operations in Palestinian-controlled territory and Israeli attack helicopters have blasted Palestinian security headquarters but Sharon has said that he has no intention of recapturing Palestinian areas.