Worldwide Warnings Against Expelling Arafat

According to an Israeli government source, the decision had effectively given a green light to the army to expel Arafat when it sees fit, though Israel has not said if, when or how it might act.

The decision sparked a spontaneous outpouring of support for the 74-year-old leader on the streets of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with Arafat vowing he would never be taken alive, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

The Israeli decision also prompted firm condemnation from key global players, with the United States, France and Russia, three backers of the Middle East peace "roadmap", speaking out firmly against any move to expel Arafat.

A senior U.S. administration official said Washington will not work with Arafat but opposes expelling him because that would only give him "a wider international stage."

"Our position on this is well known, longstanding and unchanged," the official told AFP on condition of anonymity. "It is unhelpful and it is not the solution."

Asked whether the White House had communicated its objections to Israel, the official replied: "They understand our position; they know what we think about this."

A defiant Arafat, who has been confined to his headquarters in the West Bank town of Ramallah for the past 20 months, vowed: "No one can kick me out. They can kill me kill me with bombs but I will not leave."

China Warns Israel

In Beijing, China Friday, September 12, warned Israel against expelling Arafat, saying it will escalate tensions in the Middle East and hinder the peace process.

"President Arafat is the legitimate leader elected by the Palestinian people through elections," said the foreign ministry in a statement.

"The Israeli government’s expelling of Yasser Arafat will further escalate tensions between Israel and Palestine and will not help the Middle East peace process.

"We hope Israel acts with caution and avoids a further deterioration of the situation."

“Serious” Mistake: Russia

In Moscow, Russia said Friday that Israel’s move to expel Arafat would be a "serious political mistake with the most negative consequences".

"Such a step would remove the possibility of peacefully resolving the Israeli-Palestinian crisis and would lead to an uncontrollable chain of events in the worst case scenario," said a statement from Russia’s foreign ministry.

"Only through cooperation can we end the terror and the other manifestations of violence and return to the roadmap," the statement said.

Russia, along with the European Union, United Nations and the United States, are the co-authors of the peace roadmap for the region, which sees an independent Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel by 2005.