Sharon says Israel 'at war'

Ariel Sharon says Israel "is at war" and would strike relentlessly at Palestinian militants.

Only then would a cease-fire be possible, Sharon said in a brief televised address. He also branded Yasser Arafat a danger to stability in the Middle East.

He said Yasser Arafat was "the enemy of Israel and the free world in general," and was directing a campaign of terrorism against the Jewish state.

In a five-minute speech, Sharon said: "We cannot compromise with those who are ready to die only to kill innocent civilians. This terrorism is used, directed and initiated by one man: Yasser Arafat."

Sharon said Israel had tried to reach a ceasefire but that he had now concluded it was only possible after "terror is eradicated".

He said Israel was at a crossroads in its history but did not say how long the military offensive in the West Bank and Gaza Strip would last.

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat condemned the speech as "void of substance, void of hope, void of realism."

He said: "I think Sharon slammed the door tonight in the face of all of those who are trying to de-escalate.

"What he said about President Arafat is admittance that his endgame is to destroy the peace process, destroy the Palestinian Authority and kill President Arafat."