The White House said on Sunday that Israel's siege of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat West Bank compound was "not helpful" to ending Palestinian Resistance bombings. "Israeli actions in and around the Moqata'a are not helpful in reducing terrorist violence or promoting Palestinian reforms," White House spokeswoman Jeanie Mamo said, referring to Arafat's complex in Ramallah, 12 miles north of Jerusalem. Ten buildings and mobile buildings were blown up or torn down by Israeli forces who stormed the compound on Thursday after two Palestinian Resistance bombings in Israel in successive days ended a six-week lull in such attacks.

Witnesses said Israeli occupation troops shot dead four Palestinian protesters on Sunday as thousands of people took to the streets in the West Bank and Gaza Strip to demonstrate against the siege of Arafat's compound, most of which has been razed.

Buoyed by the support, Arafat vowed never to surrender to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and refused to hand over 50 suspected militants who Israel says are holed up with him in his devastated presidential headquarters.

The rise in tensions amid the siege, Resistance bombings and street protests has further dented hopes of ending two years of violence that has killed at least 1,555 Palestinians and 599 Israelis since the Palestinians rose up against occupation.

The White House strongly condemned the Palestinian Resistance bombings and called on the Palestinians to stop such attacks while urging Israel to "continue considering the consequences of its actions."

"We condemn in the strongest possible terms the terrorist attacks that occurred in Israel last week. It is clear that the Palestinians need to take comprehensive steps to stop terror attacks," the White House spokeswoman said.

"We urge Israel to continue considering the consequences of its actions," Mamo said. "It is also important for Palestinians to understand that terrorist violence does grave damage to Palestinian aspirations for a Palestinian state. We urge Palestinians to do everything necessary to end terror attacks."


PHOTO CAPTION

An occupation soldier looks on as the Israeli occupation army continues to destroy buildings in the compound of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat in the West Bank city of Ramallah September 22, 2002. (Ammar Awad/Reuters)