JERUSALEM -- Hundreds of Palestinian protesters battled Palestinian police yesterday in Gaza in a deadly showdown that could undermine Yasser Arafat's attempts to dismantle extremist groups and stave off further Israeli military strikes.
Waves of stone-throwing demonstrators converged twice in 12 hours on the house of Sheik Ahmed Yassin, the wheelchair-bound spiritual leader of the militant Hamas organization, after the Palestinian leader placed him under house arrest.
One man was killed shortly after midnight, and the situation remained tense throughout yesterday afternoon. Palestinian police denied shooting into the surging crowds, but doctors said at least one of the men had been shot in the back.
Arafat is under tremendous pressure from Israeli leaders -- who have labeled the Palestinian Authority an "entity that supports terror" -- and the international community to dismantle militant groups such as Hamas, which carried out a recent series of deadly suicide bombings.
The Israeli army launched airstrikes at Arafat's compounds and police posts Monday and Tuesday and promised to escalate the military campaign if the arrests aren't made and terrorists continue to strike Israel.
Attacks were called off Wednesday to give Arafat an opportunity for a crackdown. Israeli officials said yesterday that they weren't satisfied and struck again early today.
Bombs from Israeli planes struck two buildings that are the headquarters for the civil police in Gaza City. At least 15 people were reported wounded in the raid, but medical personnel said none of the injuries appeared life-threatening.
"The situation is very precarious," said Hanan Ashrawi, a spokeswoman for the Arab League, before today's raid. "Arafat is expected to make arrests as his police stations are being shelled, so his mission is being made impossible. [Prime Minister Ariel] Sharon would like to see nothing more than an internal breakdown."
Diplomats shuttled during the day between the West Bank, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. U.S. envoy Anthony C. Zinni met with Sharon, Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Arafat. Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher flew in for an emergency meeting and also met with both sides.
Though little progress was reportedly made, the talks did buy Arafat more time to prove himself. Palestinian officials say they have jailed between 150 to 200 militants and dismantled a mortar bomb factory in Nablus. And Zinni succeeded in arranging a meeting to take place today between Israeli and Palestinian security officials. It will mark the first time the officials have met since Nov. 15.
American officials in Washington remained skeptical about Arafat's efforts. "The president remains deeply concerned that Palestinian jails ... are still built with bars in front with revolving doors at the back," said White House spokesman Ari Fleischer.
Putting the ailing Yassin of Hamas under house arrest was a largely symbolic act but nevertheless was seen by Palestinians as a bold move against the increasingly popular organization.
Police were posted outside Yassin's house, his telephone lines were cut and he was denied access to visitors. The act triggered protests that Palestinian and Israeli analysts said could indicate unrest should Arafat seriously try to dismantle the groups.
"The scenario I see is very sad," said Shlomo Ben-Ami, a Labor Party member of Israel's parliament. "Arafat will do his utmost not to engage in a civil war, and tragically, he will not be able to really crack down on Hamas. He will not be able to satisfy the requirements of the Israelis."
Dr. Shaul Kihmi, a psychologist who used to work for Israeli army intelligence, said Arafat finds it extremely difficult to crack down on militants because they are part of the Palestinian revolution that he began. "He can't declare war on these organizations," said Kihmi, who completed a profile of Arafat for the army last month. "It would be like a father declaring war on his sons."
Sharon's spokesman, Raanan Gissin, dismissed Arafat's detentions yesterday as "television arrests" designed for public relations rather than stopping terrorism. "What's this about putting the sheik under house arrest?" he asked. "He can't go anywhere anyway. It's not where he goes, it's what he says."
Yassin was not on a list of 36 people that Israel has demanded Arafat arrest.
Gissin declined to say when or whether the military campaign would resume. Israeli officials have given reasons for what they describe as an intermission, including renewed diplomatic initiatives, time for Arafat to make good on the demands and inclement weather.
"There are no more deadlines," Gissin said last night. "He's got to dismantle the mortar factories and the human bomb factories that send terrorists into Israel every single day. He knows who they are."
