Israel unleashes reprisal raids

JERUSALEM -- Israel rounded up dozens of suspected Palestinian militants in the West Bank on Friday in the widest sweep in 15 months of fighting, saying it had to step in where Yasser Arafat failed. Eight Palestinians were killed in gun battles with Israeli troops.

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli warplanes dropped two bombs on a Palestinian security compound, injuring seven Palestinians. Israel said it was retaliating for Palestinian mortar fire.

U.S. envoy Anthony Zinni, who tried and failed to negotiate a truce deal in the past three weeks, left Friday for Jordan and Egypt, and may return to Washington.

President Bush said Zinni's job is being made tougher because Arafat is reluctant to round up "killers and people who would derail the peace process." U.S. officials in Jerusalem said Zinni's mission was also complicated by Israel's decision to cut ties with Arafat.

Zinni's mission was accompanied by an upsurge in attacks by Islamic militants on Israelis, followed by Israeli reprisals. Since Zinni's arrival, 63 Palestinians and 44 Israelis have been killed. The Palestinian toll included 29 assailants.

The violence has strained Israel's center-right government. Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, a moderate, said in an interview published Friday that it was a mistake to cast Arafat aside. However, Peres said he would not leave the coalition.

Israeli troops raided four West Bank towns and villages on Friday, killing eight Palestinians in gun battles, demolishing two homes and arresting about 50 suspected militants.

The Israeli military said some of those detained were suspected of involvement in recent terror attacks. A senior Israeli military commander said it was the largest arrest sweep in 15 months of fighting.

Israel has repeatedly demanded that Arafat crack down on militants.

Government spokesman Arieh Mekel said Israel was no longer waiting for the Palestinian leader to do the job. "We are not telling Arafat anymore to do so. No more. We'll do it ourselves," Mekel said.