Israelis say no decline in Palestinian attacks

Sharon: Israel looking for "deeds not words"

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israeli officials said Tuesday that Palestinian attacks had not declined despite Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's call for an end to violence.

In a strongly worded speech on Sunday, Arafat said "all sorts of armed activities should be stopped and there should be no more attacks, especially the suicide bombing attacks that we have always condemned."

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told the Likud caucus in the Knesset on Tuesday that he was "fed up" with Arafat's speeches and "broken promises."

He said Israel will only believe "deeds, not words" and vowed that Israel would continue to hunt terror suspects itself.

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Arafat has come under increasing pressure from the United States, Israel and Europe to crack down on terrorists in territory under Palestinian control since a string of December attacks killed 35 Israelis. The terror bombings prompted the Israeli Cabinet to label the Palestinian Authority a "terrorist supporting entity" and sanction retaliatory strikes on the West Bank and Gaza.

Israel Radio quoted Israeli intelligence officials as saying Arafat had ordered his forces to thwart terror attacks, but was not taking steps against terrorists, including those on Israel's most-wanted list.

Several radical Palestinian groups -- including Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine -- have rejected Arafat's call to end the violence.

An Israel Defense Forces official told Israel Radio there had been no fall-off in number of attacks.

In his remarks to his party's caucus, Sharon said, "We believe only in deeds and acts and not in declarations. We are fed up with all those declarations, promises ..."

Sharon added, "We are going to take all the necessary steps and all the necessary measures to defend Israeli citizens and the very existence of the state of Israel."

The prime minister, who said he did not listen to Arafat's speech calling for a halt in attacks, said that there had been no halt in incitement.

Israel Radio reported on Tuesday that an Israeli was injured near Nablus when his car was fired on by Palestinians.

A mortar shell, Israel Radio said, was fired at Gush Katif in Gaza. No one was injured.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell called Arafat on Tuesday and thanked him for Sunday's speech, an Arafat spokesman said.

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer had said on Monday that Arafat needed to prove to the Bush administration he has the authority to lead the Palestinian people.

Fleischer said it was "constructive" that Arafat heeded the administration's call to address the Palestinian people in Arabic "expressing the message that the violence has to stop." However, he said now Arafat's task is to "demonstrate that he has, one, the desire, and, two, the authority, to turn his words into deeds."