ISLAMABAD, Sept 21: Pakistan on Saturday condemned Israel’s attack on the headquarters of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, describing it as a blow to peace efforts.

The foreign ministry said the attack, the third since March, and the decision to isolate Arafat completely, “constitutes a blatant violation of all norms of international law and further aggravates the tense situation in the region.

“Israel’s aggression... clearly jeopardizes the efforts of the international community for the resumption of peace negotiations,” the ministry said in a statement.

Israeli tanks on Saturday stood just 10 metres from Arafat’s office after the army destroyed every other building in his headquarters, detaining 19 of their occupants.—AFP