Rage as Israel decides to expel Arafat

[Skunk]

Rage as Israel decides to expel Arafat

Israel's security cabinet on Thursday agreed in principle to expel Palestinian President Yasir Arafat from the region.

Palestinians, led by none less than Arafat himself reacted to the Israeli decision with unrestrained rage.

"Arafat is an obstacle to peace and Israel will take steps to rid itself of that obstacle," an Israeli cabinet statement said. The Israeli army has been asked to prepare a plan for Arafat's exile.

But an immediate expulsion of the 74-year old Palestinian leader has been kept on hold for the time being keeping in view US opposition.

Palestinian prime minister-delegate Ahmad Quraya shelved efforts to form a new government, saying Israel's decision will "blow up" the entire region.

"This step undertaken by the Israeli government is a dangerous act that threatens every opportunity for peace," he said in a statement.

Quraya agreed to accept a nomination from Arafat to become prime minister on Wednesday.


Outpouring of support
Thousands of Palestinians rallied to the veteran leader's compound in the occupied West Bank city of Ram Allah late on Thursday.

Arafat vowed to stay put in his headquarters as Palestinians poured onto the streets of cities across the West Bank and Gaza Strip after word spread he would be expelled.

"You are brave people, my loved ones. Abu Ammar is staying here," he said, using his nom de guerre while blowing kisses to the masses who had gathered


Defiant Arafat
"No one can kick me out. They can kill me with bombs but I will not leave," Arafat told reporters earlier.

Islamic Jihad, the Palestinian resistance group, also promised to stand up to the Israeli threat of expelling Arafat

Its spokesman said Palestinian resistance would intensify if the leader was to be expelled.

"It would lead the region into a cycle of violence and the Palestinian people are ready to defend our leaders and our rights," spokesman Khaled al-Batch said.

Nabil Abu Rudeina, a top aide of Arafat said Israel "will pay a high price" if it expelled the Palestinian leader.

Israeli plan
That the Israelis were planning to act tough against Arafat were obvious even earlier during the day when tanks took up positions near the Palestinian Authority compound in Ram Allah.

It triggered immediate fears that the Israelis were planning to forcibly remove or possibly assassinate Arafat.

The Israeli decision followed Tuesday's bombings in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, that left at least 15 Israelis dead.

Having cut short his India trip, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon chaired the security cabinet meeting.

The decision to expel Arafat came amid growing calls from rabid Israelis to either expel or kill the Palestinian leader.

The Jerusalem Post told its readers on Thursday that "we must kill Yasir Arafat because the world leaves us no alternative…if we are going to be condemned in any case, we might as well do it."


Go on - someone give me a good laugh and tell me that Israel really was serious about peace....

[John D Harris]

Originally posted by Skunk: [bThe Israeli decision followed Tuesday's bombings in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, that left at least 15 Israelis dead. Go on - someone give me a good laugh and tell me that Israel really was serious about peace....

"Followed" Tuesday's bombings, not proceded tuesdays bombings, but "Followed" Earlier bombings were one of the reasons the first PM resigned, his resignation didn't cause the bombings, the bombings caused the resignation.

[Lord Lothar]

A few more years and then Arafat will die naturally and then I'm sure the Palestinian public can finally be at peace with Israel.

[Chewbacca]

I would be angry if another nation wanted to remove my elected leader as well, even if I strongly disagreed with nearly all that leader's policies like I do now. I am resolved to be neutral on this issue, I think both sides are to blame and both sides need new leadership (democraticly of course) for the peace process to continue.

[Azred]

Originally posted by Skunk: Go on - someone give me a good laugh and tell me that Israel really was serious about peace....

Why, of course Israel is interested in pursuing peace. How could you possibly think otherwise?

By the way, I have some excellent seaside property in the temperate Utah greenbelt that offers a lovely view of the ocean for sale. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[WillowIX]

Originally posted by Lord Lothar: A few more years and then Arafat will die naturally and then I'm sure the Palestinian public can finally be at peace with Israel.

Ahh but not until this generation of Israeli leadres also vanishes from power. Israel isn't all good and mighty you know. It takes two to fight. We need some younger leaders who aren't totally focused on hate.

[Avatar]

it's not about leadership or young people.

It's about a national and religious feud that has lasted decades and will last decades.

Giving Israel choclate bars and Palestine land, won't bring back all the innocents Israel unwittingly killed, and all the innocents terrorists loved to kill.

Aslong as terrorists groups exist internationally, nothing can be done. They'll come from Syria, Lebannon, Egypt...etc.
I mean young women and fathers are now blowing themselves up. Do you really think they give a toss about whether it's Sharon or Arafat?

[Sir Taliesin]

Originally posted by Azred: quote: Originally posted by Skunk: Go on - someone give me a good laugh and tell me that Israel really was serious about peace....

Why, of course Israel is interested in pursuing peace. How could you possibly think otherwise?

By the way, I have some excellent seaside property in the temperate Utah greenbelt that offers a lovely view of the ocean for sale. [img]tongue.gif[/img] [/QUOTE]Uhhh... Azred, don't you think maybe you should hold on to that property. I mean after California slides into the Pacific, it might really have a ocean side view.

[Timber Loftis]

Who had the asteroid idea? That was good. Can we renig on post-WWII commitments and just simply exterminate both sides? We could sell the land to Disney for a historical theme park and excavation study site.

Arafat needs to have his compound remodelled to look like a CRATER and Israel needs to get the hell out of lands it took by conquest and does not rightly own. The big-ass fence it's building sits waaay over the line. And, the US should be MUCH harsher about the squatting on Palestinian land issue.

[pritchke]

I have a question.

If your neighbour decided to build a fence, but decided to put it 20 feet over onto your property wouldn't you be a little ticked? What would you do if the courts refused to help? Or your neighbour decided to use your property for parties and barbecues? While his friends slept all summer on your property in their tents?

[ 09-12-2003, 12:27 PM: Message edited by: pritchke ]