Israeli leaders said they are standing by a decision to "remove" Yasser Arafat despite international condemnation, saying he is an obstacle to peace and should have been cast aside years ago.
Statements of concern rolled in from country after country on Friday, a day after Israel made the vaguely worded announcement that it would act to remove Arafat. The threat set off pro-Arafat marches in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and drew opposition from the EU, the UN and Arab countries.
Israeli Education Minister Limor Livnat bristled at the US government's position.
"Israel is an independent and sovereign state," she said. "It doesn't take orders from America."
A defiant Arafat emerged from his compound in the West Bank city of Ramallah for a second straight night on Friday and rallied hundreds of 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 the compound, a dozen Palestinians remained behind, saying they would stay in tents there and act as human shields if Israeli troops try to seize their leader.
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.
Promising to defend their leader, thousands of Palestinians marched in the streets throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
US Secretary of State Colin Powell telephoned both the Israeli and Palestinian foreign ministers to emphasize the US' opposition to exiling Arafat.
Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said many calls of concern came in from governments across the world.
"They're asking us to do nothing against Yasser Arafat," he said. "Has the world turned on its head?"
Israel's government says as long as the 74-year-old Palestinian leader continues to wield authority, peacemaking efforts will fail. Still, Israeli troops made no move to oust him from Ramallah, and on Friday abandoned lookout positions on top floors of two buildings overlooking his compound.
In his brief address to supporters, Arafat offered thanks "to all the free people of the world, for standing by their Palestinian brothers."
"It would be unwise to expel him," UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan told reporters in Geneva.
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