Israel is determined to "remove" Palestinian President Yasser Arafat one day, taking into account that the Palestinian leader might get hurt as he is seized by Israeli troops, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said in an interview published yesterday.
Sharon also indicated that prisoners held in Europe could be part of a German-brokered swap between Israel and the Iranian-backed Lebanese guerrilla group Hezbollah.
PHOTO: AP
Israeli newspapers, citing Israeli officials, reported yesterday that England and Germany are willing to release Iranian and Lebanese prisoners they hold, in exchange for information on missing Israeli airman Ron Arad, who Israel says is held by Iran.
The Israeli military tightened a Palestinian travel ban in the West Bank and Gaza Strip yesterday because of the two-day Jewish New Year's holiday which ends on Sunday evening. In most of the West Bank, Palestinians were barred from leaving their communities during the holiday. All Palestinians were banned from entering Israel, in an attempt to prevent possible attacks by militants.
In the West Bank, the incoming Palestinian prime minister, Ahmed Qureia, said he has concluded consultations on his new Cabinet and will present the team of ministers to parliament for approval within the coming days.
Leaders of the ruling Fatah party will meet today to discuss and approve the names, Palestinian officials said.
Qureia has given Fatah -- and thereby Arafat -- considerable say in putting together the Cabinet. Qureia has said that, unlike his predecessor Mahmoud Abbas, he will not challenge Arafat. The US had initially hoped that the new post of prime minister would help sideline Arafat by forcing him to give up some power.
Israel has said it would not deal with an Arafat-controlled Cabinet.
However, Sharon has not ruled out doing business with Qureia, whom he has met repeatedly in recent years. In an interview with the Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot published yesterday, Sharon described Qureia as a cunning politician and said he would judge him on his deeds, not his statements. Israel wants the Palestinians to dismantle Palestinian militant groups, as required by the US-backed "road map" peace plan, but Qureia has suggested he will not use force against the militants.
Sharon told Yediot that Israel is determined to "remove" Arafat one day. He said a decision to that effect by Israel's security Cabinet on Sept. 11 canceled his personal promise to US President George W. Bush -- made several years ago -- not to harm the Palestinian leader physically.
"You have to keep in mind that it is very difficult to ensure that he [Arafat] won't be harmed if we seize him," Sharon said.
Sharon said that American concerns will be taken into account. "But I repeat and emphasize: the fundamental decision to remove Arafat has been adopted by Israel."
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