Israel weighs up Arafat expulsion

Friday, 12 September 2003 6:01 AM

Israel faces outside opposition to its decision made Thursday to exile "in principle" Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's office issued a statement which read: "The events of recent days prove again that Yasser Arafat is the absolute obstacle to any process of conciliation between the Israeli and Palestinian people.

"Israel will act to remove this obstacle in a manner that that will be determined separately."

The plan bought thousands of Palestinians to the streets in Gaza and prompted Palestinian Prime Minister-nominee Ahmed Qureia to delay efforts to form a new cabinet.

Exiling 74-year-old Arafat would effectively derail the US-backed "road map" to peace in the Middle East, Mr Qureia said.

"This grave and adventurous decision would not only blow up the Palestinian territories but also the entire region."

Mr Arafat's Fatah movement vowed to occupy their leader's headquarters in Ramallah to prevent an army assault.

Senior Fatah official Ahmed Ghneim said: "It is true the Palestinians do not own tanks but they own the determination to resist this Israeli decision.

"We call on the Palestinian people to be present at Abu Ammar's (Arafat's) compound day and night so the Israeli occupiers realise that the people will defend their leadership."

The US said expulsion was unhelpful to peace efforts, as it would grant Mr Arafat "another stage to play on."

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said the former guerrilla fighter was a key player to peace efforts and consequently ought to stay.

The European Union voiced "great concern" about the decision.

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