The United States has concluded that the Palestinian Authority and the PLO's Fatah faction were indeed involved in the Karine A weapons-smuggling affair, according to an anonymous official U.S. source. The conclusion came following an Israeli military delegation's presentation of evidence in Washington on Wednesday that was described by the source as "convincing."

The U.S. demanded today that the Palestinians arrest those involved in the abortive plan to smuggle 50 tons of weapons into PA-controlled areas, Israel Radio reported. Senior sources in Jerusalem said that the demand was conveyed to PA officials by U.S. Consul General in Jerusalem Ronald Schlicher.

Although the U.S. refrained from issuing an official

"There is a heavy burden on Chairman Arafat and the Palestinian Authority to explain what they know about this" - U.S. Sec. of State Colin Powell

comment on whether the PA or Arafat were directly involved, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said that President George W. Bush believes that, following the "troubling" incident, "it's more important than ever for [PA] Chairman [Yasser] Arafat to demonstrate that he is a man of peace and not a man of war."

The U.S. State Department had initially suspended judgment on Israel's allegations, but Wednesday's presentation by Israeli intelligence officials succeeded in convincing the U.S. administration that members of the PA and Fatah were involved, shifting the burden of proof in the affair to the Palestinians.

"There is a heavy burden on Chairman Arafat and the Palestinian Authority to explain what they know about this and get to the bottom of this, because this is an escalation," U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said.

"Based on the Israeli briefings, the administration of President Bush believes Arafat may have been in a position to know about at least some aspects of the operation," an unnamed senior Israeli security official said.

Powell demands explanation from Arafat
Powell telephoned Arafat on Wednesday to demand an explanation for the Karine A ship, reportedly telling him, "everything you have to say, you should say as soon as possible."

"Powell told Arafat that the indications of Palestinian involvement were deeply troubling to us and that that's what we felt required a full explanation," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said on Wednesday. "[Powell] reminded [Arafat] of the seriousness that we attach to this issue and the need - the urgent need - for a full explanation."

Arafat told Powell repeatedly that the PA had nothing to do with the ship, and promised that he would carry out an in-depth investigation of the incident and report his findings to the U.S. The Palestinians have yet to provide the U.S. with any information or explanation regarding the ship.

Israel succeeds in establishing Iran link
Boucher also said that the U.S. had "credible information" that the weapons on board the Karine A were of Iranian origin.

Israel has been insisting on the Iranian link for days, presenting evidence that Hizbullah special overseas operations chief Imad Fayez Mughniyeh, who operates on behalf of Iran, was involved in the shipment. Mughniyeh is included among the U.S.'s most wanted terrorists.

Powell told the Washington Times that "evidence and information" the U.S. has received from Israel indicates the Karine A arms shipment originated in Iran and was going to the Palestinians, although not necessarily to the PA. "I have no reason to believe that the ship was not heading to the region," he said.

Unrelenting PR campaign continues
Since its capture of the ship last week, Israel has provided the U.S. with a steady stream of evidence based on interrogations of the ship's crew. A delegation of senior intelligence officials led by Brig.-Gen. Yossi Kupperwasser, head of the research brigade in the IDF's intelligence branch, discussed the affair with U.S. officials in Washington on Wednesday.

The delegation met with key intelligence officials - including Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs William Burns and Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff, Lewis Libby - submitting evidence that Arafat had direct knowledge of the shipment.

Justice Minister Meir Sheetrit met U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage in Washington on Tuesday, telling him that Arafat was behind the weapons shipment and that it was intended for use against Israel. "Arafat is a liar," Sheetrit told Armitage.

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