Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has ordered his security forces to prevent terrorist operations against Israeli civilians - this, as Israel readies its response to a deadly suicide bombing. 

Mr. Arafat told Palestinians in a televised address that he is committed to participate with the U.S. administration and international community in the war against terrorism. He also asked for international help to rebuild his security forces so they could carry out his orders to fight terror. 

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Mr. Arafat has been under U.S. pressure to condemn, in public and in Arabic, terrorist acts against Israelis. His televised address came as Israel prepared what officials say will be a very harsh response to the suicide bombing late Tuesday that killed 15 Israelis and injured more than 50 others in a billiards hall in Rishon Letzion, south of Tel Aviv. The militant Palestinian Islamic group Hamas claimed responsibility. 

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon cut short his U.S. visit because of the bombing, which came while he was meeting with President Bush at the White House. 

Mr. Sharon vowed to step up Israel's campaign to stop Palestinian terrorist attacks and said he will take preemptive action against those who plan to kill Israelis. "He who rises up to kill us, we will preempt it and kill him first," Mr. Sharon said. 

At the White House, presidential spokesman Ari Fleischer put Mr. Arafat on notice today, saying President Bush is waiting to see what actions the Palestinians take to halt attacks against Israel. The U.S. spokesman said it is time for the Palestinian Authority to reform. 

Secretary of State Colin Powell also spoke of the essential need to reform the Palestinian Authority, and the need to get back on course with political movement to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 

A senior Israeli official, traveling with Mr. Sharon home from Washington, said Yasser Arafat should be moved to a purely symbolic or figurehead position leaving others in charge of running the Palestinian Authority. 

There was another suicide bombing attempt in Israel Wednesday at a bus stop at the Meggido junction southwest of Afula. The bomber was critically wounded, but no one else was hurt, when the explosives he was wearing blew up - possibly prematurely. Meanwhile, Israeli forces carried out another incursion into the Palestinian town of Tulkarm where they reportedly arrested a local leader of Hamas. 

Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP. 

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