Post by Salem6 on Oct 17, 2003 14:32:11 GMT
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has backed down from a government decision to expel Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
In an interview with the Jerusalem Post newspaper, Mr Sharon said expelling Mr Arafat "would not be good for Israel".
But the prime minister also said there was little chance of a peace deal as long as Yasser Arafat remained leader of the Palestinians.
The comments come amid increasing pressure on Mr Arafat in the wake of Wednesday's bombing in the Gaza Strip that killed three United States security personnel travelling with a diplomatic convoy.
Last month, the Israeli security cabinet took the decision in principle to "remove" Mr Arafat - sparking widespread international condemnation.
Israeli ministers said that removing Mr Arafat might also mean killing him - and a number of "human shields," including Israelis, installed themselves at the Palestinian leader's Ramallah headquarters in the West Bank.
"The likelihood of expelling him without harming him is low, not only because of his security guards, but because he would be surrounded by a human chain of Israelis " Ariel Sharon.
But Mr Sharon told the Jerusalem Post that the opinion of Israeli intelligence services was that expelling Mr Arafat would not be a good idea.
"The likelihood of expelling him without harming him is low, not only because of his security guards, but because he would be surrounded by a human chain of Israelis."
But the Israeli leader made it clear that the Palestinian leader continued to remain an obstacle to reaching a Middle East peace deal.
"As long as he is around, there is no chance for a settlement or any political process that can lead to peace. When he is not around there is a chance."
Asked whether this meant there would be no peace while Mr Arafat is alive, Mr Sharon replied: "I didn't say dead but, in my opinion, as long as he is in control, the chance for progress is non-existent."
Palestinian cabinet minister Saeb Erekat said Mr Sharon's comments did not mean Mr Arafat was free.
"Israel has not lifted its threat to transfer Arafat or even harm him physically. It is only waiting for a suitable time to do it," Mr Erekat told the French news agency AFP.
Militants questioned
American FBI investigators have met Palestinian security officials as they try to find out who was behind Wednesday's roadside bomb attack.
Palestinian police have arrested several militants in connection with the attack.
It is the first time US officials have been killed during the intifada
Some of them are said to be members of the Popular Resistance Committee - a militant splinter group from Yasser Arafat's mainstream Fatah movement.
Palestinian police are understood to be questioning at least three suspects in connection with the bombing.
The Popular Resistance Committee is a group of local militias - including many disgruntled former policemen - set up months after the start of the intifada to defend Palestinian refugee camps from Israeli incursions.
They have denied involvement in Wednesday's attack - after an initial statement admitting it.
It was the first time officials from the United States, the leading mediator in the Middle East conflict, had been killed in the three-year Palestinian uprising.
All American citizens in the Gaza Strip have been advised to leave the area.
In an interview with the Jerusalem Post newspaper, Mr Sharon said expelling Mr Arafat "would not be good for Israel".
But the prime minister also said there was little chance of a peace deal as long as Yasser Arafat remained leader of the Palestinians.
The comments come amid increasing pressure on Mr Arafat in the wake of Wednesday's bombing in the Gaza Strip that killed three United States security personnel travelling with a diplomatic convoy.
Last month, the Israeli security cabinet took the decision in principle to "remove" Mr Arafat - sparking widespread international condemnation.
Israeli ministers said that removing Mr Arafat might also mean killing him - and a number of "human shields," including Israelis, installed themselves at the Palestinian leader's Ramallah headquarters in the West Bank.
"The likelihood of expelling him without harming him is low, not only because of his security guards, but because he would be surrounded by a human chain of Israelis " Ariel Sharon.
But Mr Sharon told the Jerusalem Post that the opinion of Israeli intelligence services was that expelling Mr Arafat would not be a good idea.
"The likelihood of expelling him without harming him is low, not only because of his security guards, but because he would be surrounded by a human chain of Israelis."
But the Israeli leader made it clear that the Palestinian leader continued to remain an obstacle to reaching a Middle East peace deal.
"As long as he is around, there is no chance for a settlement or any political process that can lead to peace. When he is not around there is a chance."
Asked whether this meant there would be no peace while Mr Arafat is alive, Mr Sharon replied: "I didn't say dead but, in my opinion, as long as he is in control, the chance for progress is non-existent."
Palestinian cabinet minister Saeb Erekat said Mr Sharon's comments did not mean Mr Arafat was free.
"Israel has not lifted its threat to transfer Arafat or even harm him physically. It is only waiting for a suitable time to do it," Mr Erekat told the French news agency AFP.
Militants questioned
American FBI investigators have met Palestinian security officials as they try to find out who was behind Wednesday's roadside bomb attack.
Palestinian police have arrested several militants in connection with the attack.
It is the first time US officials have been killed during the intifada
Some of them are said to be members of the Popular Resistance Committee - a militant splinter group from Yasser Arafat's mainstream Fatah movement.
Palestinian police are understood to be questioning at least three suspects in connection with the bombing.
The Popular Resistance Committee is a group of local militias - including many disgruntled former policemen - set up months after the start of the intifada to defend Palestinian refugee camps from Israeli incursions.
They have denied involvement in Wednesday's attack - after an initial statement admitting it.
It was the first time officials from the United States, the leading mediator in the Middle East conflict, had been killed in the three-year Palestinian uprising.
All American citizens in the Gaza Strip have been advised to leave the area.