Arafat 'doing his best' to stop attacks

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat today rejected Israel’s accusation that he is failing to do enough to prevent terrorist attacks launched from his territory.

President Arafat said he was doing all he could to prevent such attacks, but the Israelis were tying his hands by laying siege to his administration.

Israeli warplanes struck targets in the West Bank today after three people, including a woman and her daughter, were killed by a Palestinian gunman in a raid on a Jewish settlement.

President Arafat dismissed the Israeli government’s complaints about his alleged inactivity in the face of terrorist groups based on Palestinian soil.

‘‘I can make 100% effort, but no-one can give 100% results ... We are doing all (in) our capabilities,’’ said President Arafat.

‘‘But not to forget we are in a complete siege, we can’t send our forces to stop it, I can’t move my forces from one place to another, and they are asking me to stop all these activities. I am doing my best.’’

Speaking from his West Bank headquarters in Ramallah, President Arafat complained about the Israeli actions, which he described as ‘‘this very heavy military escalation against our people, against our children, against our women, against our cities, against our towns, against our villages, against our camps.’’

He insisted he remained ready to discuss a wide range of outstanding issues with the Israelis in the search for peace, though he would brook ‘‘no new settlements, no expansion of any settlements’’ on Palestinian territory.

He called for the international community to take a more active role in putting the peace process back on track.

‘‘I am asking for the international effort to protect the peace ... at least observers,’’ he said.

Yesterday President Arafat met Tony Blair’s personal envoy to the Middle East, Lord Levy.

President Arafat said: ‘‘It was a very important meeting and we cannot forget that Prime Minister Blair is playing a very important role to protect the peace, and Britain has a very important role in the European Union, with the American administration, they have very good relations with the President, and we are in need of their help.’’