'It's us, or Arafat' - Israel

2003-05-19 11:33

Jerusalem - The Israeli government will boycott any foreign official who meets Yasser Arafat, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's office said on Monday as it stepped up moves to isolate the Palestinian leader.

Sharon told his cabinet late on Sunday in the wake of a suicide bus bombing in Jerusalem that any foreign diplomat or politician who schedules a meeting with Arafat during a trip to the region will not be seen by any Israeli official.

"We have cancelled no meeting already planned with a foreign official, but those who want to see Arafat in the future should know that they will not be able to meet Israeli officials," a high-ranking official explained.

The bar does not apply to five visits already arranged, including one by French foreign minister Dominique de Villepin, who is to see Arafat on May 26 in his West Bank compound in Ramallah, Israeli public radio said.

So far Sharon has generally avoided meetings with Arafat's guests and now Israeli foreign minister Silvan Shalom is also expected to boycott them.

Last week Sharon refused to meet European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana because he was to see Arafat, though Solana is to return to Israel in the next few days when he will have talks with Israeli officials..

Israel accused Arafat on Sunday of inciting attacks by Palestinian militants following suicide blasts which killed nine people at the weekend as well as three bombers.

A fourth bomber struck on Monday, wounding three Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip, after Israeli authorities decreed that no Palestinian would be allowed to enter or leave the occupied territories until further notice.

Israel held off from a massive military response, however, "so as not to destabilise the government" of Palestinian prime minister Mahmud Abbas", who was sworn in last month by the Palestinian parliament after a power struggle with Arafat.

And Sharon ruled out deporting Arafat from the West Bank despite the clamour for his expulsion from right-wingers.

"My position in favour of expelling Arafat is well known and I do not rule out such a move in the future if he continues to be an obstacle and encourage terrorism, but for the moment the timing is not suitable," defence minister Shaul Mofaz told army radio on Monday.

Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, has pledged to bring an end to the violence of the 31-month intifada, but Palestinian militant groups have rejected an international peace plan known as the roadmap and Sharon has yet to accept it. - Sapa-AFP

- SAPA