Israeli Prime Minister Mr Ariel Sharon said in remarks published today his government did not intend to "eliminate" the Palestinian leader Mr Yasser Arafat or expel him from the Palestinian territories.
"Today, we have no intention to eliminate Arafat physically or to dismantle the Palestinian Authority, because that would damage Israel," Mr Sharon told the Israeli daily Maariv.
|
In an excerpt from the interview publishedyesterday, Mr Sharon said he regretted not having "liquidated" Mr Arafat in 1982 in Lebanon after the Israeli army invaded the country, causing a storm in the Arab world and criticism in Europe.
"Our situation would be a lot better today" had he killed the Palestinian leader, Mr Sharon said.
"For many years I have been convinced that Arafat is a terrorist and I have not changed my opinion on that score," he also said, reaffirming that Mr Arafat would stay confined to Ramallah, in the West Bank, as long as he did not comply with Israeli demands.
Among other things, Mr Sharon wants him to arrest those responsible for the assassination of Israeli tourism minister Mr Rehavam Zeevi on October 17th. Israel believes the perpetrators are in Ramallah.
Since December 3rd, Mr Arafat has been besieged by the Israeli army in Ramallah, with tanks deployed less than 100 meters from his offices.
AFP