West rebukes Israel for demolition of Arafat's compound

Condemnation poured in from around the world yesterday after the Israeli army demolished almost all of Yasser Arafat's presidential compound, on a day when Palestinians defied the Israeli army as they have not done for months, storming on to the streets in protest.

Last night, the United States repeated the concern it had raised when the demolitions began three days ago, saying: "Israeli actions are not helpful in reducing terrorist violence or promoting Palestinian reforms."

Britain lodged a formal diplomatic protest. Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, said: "I am deeply concerned by the continuing deployment of Israeli troops in Ramallah and have today instructed our ambassador to raise my concerns directly with the Israeli government. This blockade and damage to President Arafat's compound is not justified.

"We all understand Israel's paramount need for security and to protect itself from terrorist attack. But it is hard to see how the action in Ramallah will solve the problem of Palestinian violence."

The Israeli government said last night that it was halting demolition, but it had already demolished all but one building, where Mr Arafat was still under siege. Israel said it had no intention of demolishing that building.

In the early hours, hundreds of Palestinians defied a near-constant curfew in a way they have not dared to before, and stormed on to the streets, facing bullets. Protests spread into Gaza, Bethlehem, Tubas, Salfit and Hebron.

Four Palestinians were killed by the army as it broke up the protests. And all for a leader whom, only weeks ago, many Palestinians were turning against, amid demands for reform. Mr Arafat cannot have dreamt of such support.

Abd al-Rahman Awad, who was at the Ramallah protest, said: "We were shouting 'Blood sacrifice for the president'." Yet many were saying that, if he got this crisis wrong, Mr Arafat, the great survivor, could be finished. If he capitulates to Israeli demands, he could be discredited among his people. If he defies Ariel Sharon, no one is sure how far the army will go.

The Israeli government is demanding that Mr Arafat hand over 19 alleged militants it says are inside the presidential compound in Ramallah. Palestinians have said that is a pretext for the destruction of the compound.

We drove through the Manara, Ramallah's main square, where Issa Hraish, 27, died in the protests, shot by the army. Whether he was armed was not clear. Further down the road lay Mr Arafat's presidential compound, reduced to rubble. We got within 200 metres before Israeli soldiers forced us back, saying it was a "closed military zone". Some buildings were no more than piles of smashed up concrete.

For four days, the army has been dynamiting and bulldozing the compound. With Mr Arafat, trapped in the only building still standing, were some 200 aides and guards, we were told. The stairs in the building have been blocked; the Palestinian leader cannot go up or down. The entrance has been smashed. The water and electricity were cut and the army was reported to have shot a water tank on top of the building. Palestinians fear the building may collapse.

At midnight on Saturday, the word had gone around Ramallah that the Israeli soldiers had given Mr Arafat an ultimatum: leave the building in 10 minutes or they would dynamite it. Announcements went out from the loudspeakers of the city's mosques calling people on to the streets. The churches rang their bells.

Hassan Ismail said: "We heard on Al-Jazeera [Arabic television] that the Israelis had given Arafat an ultimatum. About 300 of us went out. It was our intention to surround the Israelis who are surrounding Arafat's compound, but they stopped us in the square."

It is hard to believe this is the same leader about whom many Palestinians were bitterly grumbling a few days ago. In April, when Mr Arafat was last confined to his compound, his popularity soared, but Palestinians were disappointed when he made deals, surrendering wanted men to end his ordeal and agreeing to the exile of others to end the siege of the Church of the Nativity.

Mr Sharon's government may be banking on Mr Arafat making another deal. An Israeli minister reopened an offer he made to Mr Arafat in April: a "dignified" passage into exile, but on a "one-way ticket". If Mr Arafat refuses to back down, it is not clear what the Israeli government will do. Killing Mr Arafat would bring international condemnation. Forcing him into exile has apparently been rejected by the cabinet, although Mr Sharon is said to favour it.