The Palestinian Legislative Council on Wednesday called for a halt to contacts with Israel , just hours after President Yasser Arafat said the Jewish state had effectively declared war on the Palestinians by pursuing its hardline policies .
<response> The <organization>Palestinian Legislative Council</organization> on Wednesday called for a halt to contacts with <location>Israel</location> , just hours after President <person>Yasser Arafat</person> said the <misc>Jewish</misc> state had effectively declared war on the <misc>Palestinians</misc> by pursuing its hardline policies . </response>