Israeli tanks again attack Arafat's headquarters

RAMALLAH, West Bank, June 6 -- Israeli tanks blasted their way into the headquarters compound of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat early Thursday hours after a suicide bomber in a van killed 17 Israelis on a crowded bus.

It was not immediately clear if Israeli forces were attempting to capture Arafat, who the government of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon blames for Wednesday's bombing -- the deadliest in more than two months. Following another devastating suicide bombing in March, Israeli tanks and troops lay siege to Arafat's Ramallah compound for 34 days.

Flashes of light illuminated the dark sky over this West Bank city and huge explosions --as many as 20 in one half-hour period --echoed as tanks pounded the compound with shells and heavy machine-gun fire. A Palestinian official, speaking by telephone from one building, said 20 tanks had entered the outer walls of the blocklong complex and there was considerable damage.

Arafat retreated to an underground bunker and was safe for the time being, said the official, Deputy Gov. Saeb Nassar. The Palestinian Authority president's guards returned fire sporadically. According to reports, at least six were wounded and one intelligence officer killed.

"We don't know yet if they'll try to take Arafat," Nassar said. "We are prepared for anything."

An Israeli army spokeswoman said troops and armor were surrounding the complex and were engaged in "heavy exchanges of fire," but she declined further comment.

Israeli payback had been expected after Wednesday's suicide bombing during the morning rush hour near Megiddo in north-central Israel. It killed 17 Israelis. Most were young soldiers -- male and female, in their late teens and early 20s -- on their way to duty at a string of military bases.

A Palestinian drove a stolen van laden with explosives up to the rear of a crowded inter-city bus, detonating the bomb and engulfing the bus in a massive fireball.

In the immediate aftermath of the attack, Sharon delayed a scheduled departure for the United States until Saturday, calling off appearances in New York. He plans to meet with President Bush on Monday as the United States tries to revive peace talks.

The bus exploded hours after CIA Director George J. Tenet met with Arafat to discuss the Palestinian administration's failure to control the recent run of militant attacks on Israel.