Israel faces an international outcry today over its decision to "remove" Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.
The threat drew tens of thousands of Arafat supporters into the streets to rally to his defence.
Later, the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, an armed group with links to Arafat's Fatah group, said it would attack Israelis "everywhere, inside Israel and in the occupied areas", if he was expelled.
|
Calling Mr Arafat an obstacle to peace after two suicide bombings killed 15 Israelis on Tuesday, Israel's security cabinet vowed yesterday "to remove" him "in a manner that will be determined separately".
The wording left open options that could include killing Mr Arafat - a proposal that Israeli newspapers said Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz raised but Prime Minister Ariel Sharon rejected - or expelling him from the Palestinian territories.
Sources close to the government said it had asked the army to refresh plans to exile Mr Arafat, but not immediately.
After the Israeli decision, Palestinian Prime Minister-designate Ahmed Korei suspended efforts to form a cabinet, saying expelling Mr Arafat could "blow up" the Middle East.Israel is under US pressure not to exile Mr Arafat. "Exiling Arafat does not help the situation. It is not the solution. . . . All it does is to give him an international stage on which he would continue to be an obstacle to peace," said a White House official.
But one Israeli cabinet minister responded by saying Israel "doesn't take orders" from Washington.
Thousands of Palestinians gathered last night at Mr Arafat's headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah, where Israeli blockades have kept him in near confinement for the past 21 months, and pledged to defend him with their lives.
A beaming Mr Arafat blew kisses and flashed the V-for-victory sign. "You are brave people, my loved ones. Abu Ammar is staying here," he said, using his nom de guerre.
Thousands also rallied in other West Bank cities in Mr Arafat's support.
French President Jacques Chirac told a news conference in Spain: "I consider President Arafat the legitimate representative of the Palestinian Authority and I think it would be a serious mistake to seek to eliminate him politically."
The European Union said exiling Mr Arafat would likely escalate Israeli-Palestinian tensions. Russia said expelling him would "wipe away the prospects of a peaceful settlement".
Both are sponsors, with the United States and United Nations of a peace "road map" battered by a surge of violence.