Israeli Cabinet Decides To Expel Arafat

The Israeli premier was expected to oversee discussions focusing on the prospects of a large-scale ground operation against Hamas in Gaza as well as expelling Arafat.

Israeli troops Thursday occupied the seventh-floor of the Palestinian culture ministry building in the West Bank city of Ramallah, just 300 yards from Arafat’s offices.

Before the meeting, Shalom said a majority of his colleagues now backed Arafat’s expulsion, despite opposition from the United States.

"If there is a vote in the cabinet, there will be a majority, but I’m not sure it will be put to the vote," he told public radio.

"Security officials who in the past were opposed to this measure are now in favor. Everyone now supports it," Shalom said, referring to both security and political considerations over expelling Arafat.

Hardliners in Sharon’s ruling coalition have long called for the veteran leader to be expelled from the Palestinian territories.

In a quick response, Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath said the decision was tantamount to a "declaration of war against the Palestinians, and a brazen aggression against a democratically-elected government."

In January 1996, Arafat was elected in a landslide victory for the presidency. Results of the ballots gave the Palestinian leader 88.1 percent to challenger Samiha Khalil’s 9.3 percent, with the remainder of ballots ruled invalid.

Asked if the Israeli government seriously considers expelling Arafat after six earlier similar threats were restrained by the United States and Europe, Shaath stressed that "everything is possible from Sharon’s government".

Ahmed Abdel Rahman, an aide to the veteran leader, also warned: "An attempt to harm President Arafat would lead the region to the edge of the abyss."

Arafat’s senior advisor, Nabil Abu Rudeina, said that an Israeli attempt to expel the Palestinian leader would deal a major blow to the peace process.

"It will result in big damage to the peace process and international efforts," he told AFP.

"We are asking the international community, especially the United States, to stop these Israeli threats against the Palestinian people and the Palestinian leadership … if the international community wishes for security, peace and quiet in this area."