Israel faced an international outcry yesterday over its decision to "remove" Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, a threat that drew tens of thousands of supporters into the streets to rally to his defense.
"The decision yesterday turned Arafat into a hero ... and that's a shame," commentator Roni Shaked wrote in Israel's largest newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth.
Calling Arafat an obstacle to peace but under US pressure not to exile him after two suicide bombings killed 15 Israelis on Tuesday, Israel's security Cabinet vowed on Thursday "to remove" him "in a manner that will be determined separately."
The wording left open options that could include killing Arafat -- a proposal which Israeli newspapers said Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz raised but Prime Minister Ariel Sharon shot down -- or expelling him from the Palestinian territories.
Sources close to the government said it had asked the army to refresh plans to exile Arafat, but not immediately.
The EU Commission said expelling Arafat would be a "terrible mistake" and the 15-nation bloc would maintain its contacts with the elected Palestinian president.
"The Commission does not share the Israeli Cabinet's decision to act in principle against Mr. Arafat. We believe that would be a terrible mistake that would have serious consequences across the whole region," Commission spokesman Diego De Ojeda told a news briefing.
After the Israeli decision, thousands of Palestinians flocked to Arafat's headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah, where Israeli blockades have kept him confined for the past 21 months, and pledged to defend him with their lives.
Crowds numbering in the thousands also rallied in other cities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in Arafat's support.
A beaming Arafat -- again the center of attention after US attempts to sideline him in Middle East peacemaking -- blew kisses and flashed the V-for-victory sign.
"Abu Ammar is staying here," he said, using his nom de guerre.
A White House official, who asked not to be named, said exiling Arafat would only "give him an international stage on which he would continue to be an obstacle to peace."
After Israel's decision, Palestinian prime minister-designate Ahmed Qurie suspended efforts to form a Cabinet. He was to take over from Mahmoud Abbas, a moderate who quit a week ago accusing Arafat and Israel of undermining him.
"If these Israeli policies continue against Yasser Arafat, I don't think there is any meaning to forming any government or any effort to try to control the situation," Qurie told the Qatar-based al-Jazeera television news channel.
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.
Sharon has been under pressure from many members of his right-wing Cabinet to banish Arafat. Their calls grew louder after this week's suicide attacks.
Taking action against him could also help boost Sharon's popularity among Israelis, who an opinion poll showed yesterday had grown dissatisfied with his handling of security matters and largely favor either killing Arafat or expelling him.
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