Jerusalem ? Israeli tanks and armored personnel carriers today surrounded Yasser Arafat’s shell-shattered compound while the Palestinian leader and aides were inside, expanding Israel’s control over the West Bank.

Seventeen tanks were taking up positions around Arafat’s compound and just inside at a helicopter pad. Israeli soldiers flashed V-for-victory signs while standing atop their moving vehicles. Palestinian intelligence officials said 130 tanks were seen moving into the city.

An Israeli army tank and an armored personnel carrier maneuver in the streets of the West Bank town of Ramallah. Israeli forces today surrounded Yasser Arafat's shell-shattered West Bank compound while the Palestinian leader and aides were inside.

Two Israeli helicopters covered the incursion from above, but there was no resistance. The Israeli army spokesman’s office would not immediately comment.

Within an hour of moving into Ramallah and adjoining el-Bireh, soldiers announced through loudspeakers that a curfew had been imposed on the area’s 200,000 residents as in the other towns.

The move into Ramallah widens the Israeli military’s scope of control over once-autonomous Palestinian areas. Israeli troops now control most Palestinian population centers in the West Bank, including Nablus, Jenin, Tulkarem and Bethlehem.

The incursions come after back-to-back suicide bombings in Jerusalem that killed 26 Israelis Tuesday and Wednesday. Israel’s Cabinet said troops would seize and hold Palestinian areas until the attacks cease.

Moments before the Israeli incursion today, word emerged that Palestinian authorities had placed the spiritual leader of the Islamic militant group Hamas under house arrest in the Gaza Strip. On Sunday, the Palestinians arrested dozens of Hamas members, including a local Gaza leader, Muhammed Shuhab. Hamas has claimed scores of suicide bombings.

An order had been issued for the house arrest of Sheik Ahmed Yassin, Palestinian security sources told The Associated Press. Seven Palestinian police cars blocked the street on either side of the Gaza home of Yassin, who has been placed under house arrest in the past.

	Helicopter gunship kills 3 in Gaza StripIsraeli helicopter gunships fired missiles today at a car in the southern Gaza Strip, killing three people, Palestinian security officials said.It was not immediately clear who was being targeted in the attack in Jnaineh, east of Rafah City. Witnesses said at least three people inside the car were killed. Doctors at a hospital in Rafah said they had received one badly burned body that could not be identified,The Israeli army did not immediately comment.

In Ramallah, Arafat was inside the compound along with Faisal Abu Sharakh, head of Force 17, one of Arafat’s security apparatus. Also in the compound were intelligence chief Tariq al-Tarawi, who is wanted by Israel, and Ribhy Arafat, the Palestinians’ senior official responsible for coordination with the Israelis, Arafat aide Nabil Abu Rdeneh said.

Since the end of March, when Israeli forces bombarded the compound and stayed there for a month, they have been back three times. Earlier this month, they blew up some buildings inside the compound and left the same day. They also returned two weeks ago, staying around the compound for three days before leaving.

Israeli officials deny Arafat’s claim they intend to re-establish civil control over the West Bank, making Israel again responsible for municipal services, building permits, education and vital records. An Israeli military administration presided over Palestinians until creation of autonomous areas began in 1994.

Raanan Gissin, spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, said that “Israel will be there in military presence only, in order to crush terror,” Gissin said. He acknowleged, however, that Israel would assist when necessary.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s Cabinet approved a security plan that includes building concrete barriers and electronic fences in hopes of preventing attacks on its territory.

Israeli Cabinet Secretary Gideon Saar said the government was considering the possibility of deporting families of Palestinian suicide bombers to the Gaza Strip, but would not act unless the Israeli judiciary said such action was legal.

Israeli forces moved into the West Bank town of Qalqiliya at daybreak Sunday. Also Sunday, the army began drafting a brigade of about 4,000 reserve troops to deal with the West Bank incursion, army officials said.