TEL AVIV, June 22: Israel’s re-occupation of West Bank cities, codenamed “Determined Path”, showed signs on Saturday of becoming a long-term operation, drawing harsh condemnation from the Palestinian leadership.

As the Israeli army maintained its grip on six out of eight Palestinian self-rule cities, a senior official said Israeli civil administrative rule for the territories might follow.

Defence ministry director Amos Yaron told Israeli public radio that “if the outcome of the operations underway is a long-term presence of the army on the ground, and if (the army) must answer the needs of the civilian population, then we will examine this and provide the answers”.

He was commenting on a decision by the security cabinet on Friday to re-occupy “as long as necessary” Palestinian self-rule towns until “anti-Israeli attacks stop”.

By Saturday, Israel was totally in control of Bethlehem, Jenin, Ramallah, Nablus, Tulkarem and Qalqiliya. Only Al Khalil and Jericho were spared. Yaron’s remarks drew a storm of protests from Palestinian officials.

“Israel is pouring oil on the fire,” Palestinian local affairs minister and top negotiator Saeb Erakat said.

“This is the Israeli scheme: to resume the occupation and destroy the Palestinian Authority and replace it with a civilian administration. This is a very dangerous development,” he said. Palestinian information minister Yasser Abed Rabbo charged that Israel was planning “to impose military rule (in the West Bank) through what is being called civil administration.

“This is part of the plot adopted by (Israeli Prime Minister Ariel) Sharon to put an end to the Palestinian Authority,” he said.

He also criticized the United States for condoning Israeli action, after US President George W. Bush said on Friday that Israel has “the right to defend herself” in retaliation for Palestinian suicide attacks.

“It is a shame that the Americans consider the Israeli action as a mere reaction, rather than see it for what it is: a bid to put an end to the Oslo (autonomy accords) and the Palestinian Authority,” Abed Rabbo said.—AFP