Arafat vulnerable, warns Sharon
Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon has revoked a pledge not to harm Palestinian Authority leader Yasser Arafat.
In an interview with Israel TV’s Channel Two, broadcast last night, Mr Sharon said he had informed US President George Bush about his change of stance during a meeting in Washington last week.
At the meeting, Mr Sharon received backing for his unilateral “disengagement plan,” which aims to evacuate all settlements from the Gaza Strip and several in the West Bank.
Palestinian officials criticised Mr Sharon for his “dangerous statements” and requested US intervention.
Mr Sharon accuses the under-house-arrest Palestinian leader of condoning Palestinian terrorism over the last three years.
Mr Sharon told the TV channel: “I told the president the following: ‘In our first meeting about three years ago, I accepted your request not to harm Arafat physically’.
“I told him I understand the problems surrounding the situation, but I am released from that pledge.”
A senior official in Washington said Friday: “We have made it entirely clear to the Israeli government that we would oppose any such action and have done so again in the wake of these remarks.
“We consider a pledge a pledge.”
Mr Arafat said he was not afraid of Sharon’s threats. “He has a history of attempting to target me.”
Israel has already assassinated Hamas leaders Ahmed Yassin and Abdel-Aziz al-Rantissi.
