Sharon No Longer Bound by Pledge Not to Harm Arafat

[More scary shit (not like we didn't already know this, but now it's
being audibly projected).  Shouldn't we raise the terror threat level to
orange at least?  Seems like a blatant warning like this would be
something we should actually pay attention to.  And I'm not only talking
about the reaction were this to go down, but also how sharon seems to be
pushing his luck as I see it.  Who in there right mind supports such
tactics as "forward" and "peace seeking" as these?  Let's persevere over
these latest atrocities and outright evil measures. -j ]


http://www.reuters.com/printerFriendlyPopup.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=4926881

Sharon No Longer Bound by Pledge Not to Harm Arafat
Fri Apr 23, 2004 04:39 PM ET

By Corinne Heller

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Friday he
no longer felt bound by a pledge he had given to President Bush not to
harm Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.

But the United States told its close ally in blunt terms it must abide
by the promise it made three years ago.

"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," a senior Bush administration official said in Washington.

"We consider a pledge a pledge."

With Sharon struggling to halt an erosion in support for his Gaza
withdrawal plan, such a thinly veiled threat against Arafat could go
down well among members of his right-wing Likud Party. The party will
vote on the initiative May 2 and media polls suggest the result will be
close.

"I said (to Bush) in our first meeting about three years ago that I
accepted his request not to harm Arafat physically," Sharon told
Israel's Channel 2. "But I am released from this commitment. I release
myself from this commitment regarding Arafat."

Sharon gave no indication any move against Arafat was imminent.

Sharon said he informed Bush of his decision about Arafat during a
meeting at the White House last week, where he received U.S. approval
for his plan to unilaterally evacuate all settlements from the Gaza
Strip and some in the West Bank.

Ahmed Tibi, an Israeli-Arab member of Israel's parliament said Arafat
told him by telephone: "I am a believer. I am not afraid of Sharon's
threats. He has a history of attempting to target me."

Tibi said Arafat told him the feeling in the Palestinian Authority was
that Sharon's comments "should be taken seriously."

Israel has already assassinated leaders of Palestinian militant groups,
most recently Hamas leaders Ahmed Yassin and Abdel-Aziz al-Rantissi.
Sharon has said all militant leaders involved in planning attacks on
Israelis are marked for death.

Arafat adviser Nabil Abu Rdainah said Sharon's statement was an
"escalation" that would "lead to increased tensions."

"We reject Sharon's statement and demand clarification from Mr. Bush on
such a statement and hold Sharon responsible for such a dangerous
statement," he said.

Israel accuses Arafat of fomenting violence, an accusation he denies.
Hundreds of Israelis have been killed in attacks planned and carried out
by militant groups, including the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, part of
Arafat's Fatah faction.

REJECTION OF GAZA PLAN IS 'VICTORY FOR ARAFAT'

Mindful of opposition within Likud's pro-settler ranks, Sharon has
signaled he will likely press ahead with his Gaza disengagement proposal
even if his party votes it down.

"I'm not even trying to think for a moment what will happen if this plan
does not pass," Sharon said. "First, I would see that as a huge victory
for Arafat and Hamas. Second, it would darken our relationship with the
United States."

In the West Bank, troops shot and killed five Palestinians, bringing to
27 the number killed since Israel assassinated Rantissi in a helicopter
attack last week in Gaza.

Sharon's disengagement plan also calls for retaining some large
settlement blocs in the West Bank, built on land Palestinians want as
part of a future state and bans Palestinian refugees from returning to
homes in what is now Israel.

Bush's break with decades of U.S. policy enraged Palestinians, who see
it as a ruse to hold on to large tracts of land captured by Israel in
the 1967 Middle East war. Arafat has said it would turn Gaza into a
prison. (Additional reporting by Wafa Amr in Ramallah)

© Copyright Reuters 2004. All rights reserved. Any copying,
re-publication or re-distribution of Reuters content or of any content
used on this site, including by framing or similar means, is expressly
prohibited without prior written consent of Reuters.

Quotes and other data are provided for your personal information only,
and are not intended for trading purposes. Reuters, the members of its
Group and its data providers shall not be liable for any errors or
delays in the quotes or other data, or for any actions taken in reliance
thereon.

© Reuters 2004. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of
Reuters content, including by caching, framing or similar means, is
expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters.
Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and
trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.
_______________________________________________
heads mailing list
[email protected]
http://ballistichelmet.org/mailman/listinfo/heads/
http://ballistichelmet.org/donate/