WASHINGTON?As Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon declared war on terror Monday, the White House pressed Yasser Arafat to crack down on Palestinians whose suicide bombings killed at least 26 people over the weekend.

“Chairman Arafat has an obligation to make a 100 percent effort,” White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said as Israeli missiles slammed into the West Bank and Gaza.

Mindful that the Palestinian Authority often has quickly released detained terrorists, Fleischer said: “The president thinks it’s very important that the Palestinian jails not only have bars on front, but no longer have revolving doors at the back.”

In Jerusalem, Sharon told the Israeli people that “Israel and the United States stand together.” In Washington, as support for Arafat as the Palestinians’ unquestioned leader began to fade, the Bush administration stressed its support for Israel.