DATE=03/29/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=ISRAEL / PALESTINIANS (S 3rd UPDATE)

NUMBER=2-288142

BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN

DATELINE=JERUSALEM

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

/// UPDATES 2-288130 ///

INTRO: Israeli tanks and troops smashed into Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's West Bank office compound. And a teenage suicide bomber blew herself up at a supermarket in southern Jerusalem. Correspondent Laurie Kassman reports on the situation from Jerusalem.

TEXT: A top Israeli commander says his forces are in control of the compound with the exception of Mr. Arafat's main office building. He told reporters that large amounts of weapons had been confiscated and that 60 people were arrested.

Israeli troops battled Palestinian security forces inside Yasser Arafat's Ramallah headquarters most of the day after tanks smashed through the exterior walls.

As night fell, Israeli forces cut off electricity throughout Ramallah.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon ordered the military operation early Friday morning after declaring the Palestinian leader an enemy. Mr. Sharon is calling up more than 20 thousand reservists for what he calls widespread operations to disrupt and destroy terrorist networks.

Mr. Sharon says the military strike at Mr. Arafat's headquarters does not aim to harm Mr. Arafat personally, but the Palestinian leader told Arab T-V that Israel wants him, in his words, under arrest, in exile or dead. (Signed)

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