Palestinian negotiator: Sharon making 'mistake of his life'

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat

(CNN) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is making "the mistake of his life" by pursuing military action in the wake of this weekend's suicide bombings, the Palestinian Authority's chief negotiator said Monday.

"At the end of the day, this means that more Palestinians and Israelis will be killed. There will be no military solutions to our problem," the negotiator, Saeb Erakat, said.

Israel launched airstrikes Monday afternoon on Palestinian Authority leader Yasser Arafat's headquarters in Gaza and in the West Bank town of Jenin. The raids followed weekend suicide bombings that killed 25 Israelis.

Sharon told Israelis on Monday night that "war has been imposed on us, a war of terrorism" and that Arafat was responsible.

But Erakat said Sharon and the Israeli government were wrong to blame and target Arafat, noting the Palestinian leader had condemned the weekend bombings and committed to pursue those who planned them.

"At the same time, Sharon and the Israeli government began bombarding the same police forces and mortars that are supposed to do the job," Erakat said. "They are tying Arafat's hands. They blindfold him and thow him to the sea and ask him to be a good swimmer."

Earlier, Erakat had suggested the airstrikes would breed only more violence.

"If Sharon thinks he can intimidate the Palestinian people by doing this, I am afraid to tell him that the only thing he's doing tonight is just making it more impossible for those of us who want to make peace to move forward," he said.

In Washington, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer declined to comment directly on the airstrikes. Instead, he reiterated the Bush administration's belief that Israel has a right to defend itself and that both sides need to understand the repercussions of their actions.

But a senior administration official involved with the Middle East said Monday that the attacks were a "clear message to Arafat that not only is Israel fed up, we are fed up as well."

"Arafat is not working for the aspirations of the Palestinian people, he is working against them," the official said. "He needs to get his act together."

The official said that the United States is not urging restraint in response to this weekend's suicide bombings in Jerusalem and Haifa but is merely cautioning the Israelis to "avoid civilian causalties and think of the day after."

He added that the administration was not notified in advance of the Israeli attacks but would not condemn the action because Israel "did not strike at facilities Arafat's security forces would use to carry out arrests."

Sharon spokesman Raanan Gissin said the strike was a reminder to Arafat that he must take action against terrorists. Gissin said Monday's action "was intended to send a very clear signal -- either Arafat brings justice to these people and fights terrorism, or we will have to."

Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Gideon Mayer said the strikes should underscore for Arafat that the world has no patience for terrorists or those who harbor them.

"He's not making the real strategic decision which is expected of him -- to join the forces that are fighting terrorism," Mayer said.