Israeli combat helicopters Tuesday fired missiles into a police building 100 feet from Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat's headquarters while he was inside, part of an escalating military offensive launched across the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Arafat was not injured but abruptly repaired to an underground bunker. The Israeli army said it was not trying to hit Arafat, but the strike was heavy in symbolic significance, hitting the Palestinian leader where he lives.
The government of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon formally declared the Palestinian Authority a \terror-supporting entity' earlier Tuesday, and Sharon vowed to fight what Israel regards as Arafat-sponsored terrorism.
Israel accuses Arafat of failing to rein in Islamic militants who kill and maim Israelis.
