RAMALLAH, June 10: Israeli tanks and troops rumbled into Ramallah on Monday and again encircled the headquarters of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, forcing him to call off the first meeting of his new-look cabinet.

One Palestinian was killed, two others were wounded and 20 arrested in the largest Israeli incursion in weeks, which the Palestinians condemned as an operation aimed at derailing their newly announced political reforms.

Arafat was unhurt in the raid by more than 70 tanks, including many that surrounded his compound for the second time in four days following a ferocious six-hour blitz Thursday in a reprisal for a suicide bombing.

But Palestinian officials said the Israeli move forced them to cancel the first meeting of the new Palestinian Authority cabinet, announced on Sunday in a bid to restore international confidence in Arafat’s leadership.

“We cannot make this meeting because the siege and aggression against Arafat’s office is still continuing,” said chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat, also minister of local government.

The Palestinians had been hoping to show off their new government at a time when Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was in Washington and expected to push once more to sideline Arafat in the Middle East peace process.

Israeli forces backed by two Apache attack helicopters began rolling into Ramallah before daybreak, triggering heavy clashes, particularly around the Al-Amari refugee camp, Palestinian security sources and witnesses said.

At daybreak, Israeli troops imposed a curfew on the city, warning residents by loudspeaker that anyone leaving their house would be shot, as soldiers went door to door looking for suspects.

A Palestinian was killed in the refugee camp and two others were wounded during exchanges of fire, and one was taken away by the Israelis.

The Israeli army said one of their soldiers was lightly wounded in fighting near the refugee camp.

Israeli troops also entered a number of Palestinian towns and villages in the West Bank, the army said, arresting two Palestinians in Beit Awa village, west of Al Khalil, one in Azun east of Qalqilya and six in Zeita, north of Tulkarem.

Since winding down a major West Bank military offensive last month, the Israelis have continued hit-and-run raids on various towns, including Thursday’s tank attack on Arafat’s base that killed a bodyguard and wounded six people.

But Palestinian officials insisted Monday’s massive incursion in Ramallah, which was not preceeded by a new suicide bombing, was more of a political gesture aimed at throwing a wrench into Palestinian reform efforts.

It came a day after a new, streamlined cabinet was announced to counter widespread criticism that Arafat’s Palestinian Authority was corrupt, inefficient and unable or unwilling to stop anti-Israeli attacks.

Erakat said the incursion was a message from Sharon as he prepared for talks with US President George W. Bush. “The message is: ‘We don’t want to give the Palestinians a chance to form a government or hold elections’.”

Erakat accused Sharon of wanting “to kill Arafat and destroy the entire peace process. It is Israel’s responsibility if anything happens to Arafat.”—AFP