Israel shrugs off criticism over Arafat
( 2003-09-13 09:42) (Agencies)
Israeli leaders shrugged off condemnation of their decision to "remove" Yasser Arafat whenever they choose, saying Friday the Palestinian leader should have been ousted long ago and the world has no right to judge a nation facing constant suicide bombings.
Words of caution, regret and anger rolled in from country after country a day after Israel made the vaguely worded decision that it would act to remove Arafat. The threat sparked pro-Arafat marches by thousands of supporters in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and drew opposition from the European Union, the United Nations and Arab countries, as well as the United States.
"In the early hours of this morning the phones rang from all over the world," Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said. "They're asking us to do nothing against Yasser Arafat. Has the world turned on its head?"
Arafat emerged from his compound in Ramallah for a second straight night Friday and rallied supporters, saying: "To Jerusalem we are going as martyrs in the millions."
The crowd held photos of Arafat and chanted: "With our blood and souls we will redeem you." Arafat answered: "With our blood and souls, we will redeem you Palestine."
As the crowd left, a dozen Palestinians remained behind in the compound and set up tents, saying they would act as human shields if Israeli troops try to seize their leader.
Israel, however, pulled back from any immediate operation and on Friday abandoned lookout positions on top floors of two buildings overlooking Arafat's compound.
Secretary of State Colin Powell telephoned both Shalom and the Palestinian foreign minister to emphasize the United States' opposition to exiling Arafat. White House spokesman Scott McClellan said "it would not help matters; it would only serve to give him a broader stage."
The Palestinians urged the U.N. Security Council to demand that Israel stop the expulsion. The Council discussed a resolution late Friday and then adjourned until Monday, despite Palestinian pressure for a quick vote.
Israel's government says that as long as the 74-year-old Arafat continues to wield authority, peacemaking efforts will fail. Still, Israel made no move to oust him from Ramallah, and on Friday even abandoned lookout positions on top floors of two buildings overlooking his compound.
The Israeli threats only seemed to bolster Arafat, who has been trapped in his office for nearly two years by troops and threats that he might not be allowed back.
In Jerusalem, meanwhile, police stormed the city's most hotly disputed holy site Friday, firing tear gas and stun grenades to disperse Muslim worshippers who police said threw stones down at Jewish worshippers at the Western Wall. Some witnesses said they didn't see stones thrown. There were no injuries reported, and crowds quickly dispersed. Police blamed Arafat for the disturbance.
Israel's security Cabinet announced its decision in principle Thursday, two days after twin Palestinian suicide bombings killed 15 Israelis. In their statement, Israeli leaders declared Arafat "a complete obstacle" to peace and said "Israel will work to remove this obstacle in the manner, at the time, and in the ways that will be decided on separately."
That wording makes room for several options: deporting Arafat, capturing him or killing him. The Israeli daily Haaretz reported that when Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz talked of killing Arafat during the Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon asked him not to use that term.
Some Israeli critics accused Sharon of making empty threats. "The bottom line is that they're not expelling Arafat," said Emannuel Rosen, diplomatic correspondent for Israel's Channel 10 TV. "This is a virtual game we're playing among ourselves — undignified, not serious."
Abroad, however, there was concern Israel might act and condemnation of the decision was widespread. France warned that expelling Arafat would be an error and the Arab League said Israel had in effect "declared war" on the peace process.
"It would be unwise to expel him," U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said.
Countries expressing concern ranged from Switzerland to Pakistan. Italy, Russia, Germany and Britain also voiced disapproval.
"We believe it would be a terrible mistake that would have serious consequences across the whole region," EU spokesman Diego Ojeda said.
Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath said Powell told him in a phone call that the United States pressed Israel to call off any immediate move against Arafat. He said Powell also gave assurances that the United States would push Israel to meet key commitments of the stalled "road map" peace plan, in particular to withdraw forces from Palestinian cities and freeze settlement construction.
Mofaz, meanwhile, insisted Israel would act against Arafat. Speaking ahead of a meeting with U.S. Ambassador Daniel Kurtzer — and with Kurtzer at his side — Mofaz said, "I am convinced the state of Israel has in the past made a historic mistake by not taking this decision earlier."
Israel believes Arafat is at least indirectly to blame for the attacks on Israeli civilians over the last three years of fighting and charges that he's done nothing with the security forces to stop them.
Israeli public opinion favors strong action. A poll in the newspaper Yediot Ahronot showed 60 percent of Israelis would like to see Arafat killed or exiled. The survey had a margin of error of 4.4 percentage points.
The Israeli decision meant that Sharon and Mofaz could decide on expelling Arafat without reconvening the Cabinet. Maj. Gen. Giora Eiland confirmed there are operational plans to carry out an expulsion, saying in comments carried by Israel TV that "there can be several plans for different situations."
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