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Sharon proposes 'one-way ticket' exile for Arafat

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat will not accept exile from Ramallah, a Palestinian official says.
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat will not accept exile from Ramallah, a Palestinian official says.  


JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon suggested Tuesday that Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat could be permitted to leave his besieged West Bank headquarters on "a one-way ticket" to exile.

However, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said Arafat will be regarded as the leader of the Palestinians -- no matter where he is based.

Arafat's headquarters in Ramallah have been under siege by Israeli forces since Friday.

Sharon said he had received calls from world leaders voicing concern about Arafat's plight. He said he told them they could send a helicopter to take him from the West Bank city.

"I suggested that if they would like that we will bring him somewhere or they will come with a helicopter and will take him from here," Sharon said.

But Sharon said three things must occur:

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon says Arafat will not be allowed to return if he leaves his West Bank headquarters.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon says Arafat will not be allowed to return if he leaves his West Bank headquarters.  

"One -- I have first to bring it to the Cabinet," and it "should be approved."

Arafat "cannot take anyone with him because they are wanted and murderers [are] surrounding him there."

"And the third thing, it is going to be a one-way ticket, and he will not be able to return."

Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erakat denounced the proposal, saying the Palestinian leader would not accept exile.

"The endgame is happening now, and I hope President Bush will understand what Sharon is doing is not self-defense," Erakat said. "It's state terror, and it's war crimes being committed against Palestinians."

But Powell said Tuesday on CNN it doesn't matter whether Arafat is in Ramallah or in exile. (Full story)

Arafat "still has a legitimate role within the Palestinian movement" and it is "best to deal with him in that role" rather than designating him as a terrorist, Powell said.

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"He is recognized -- whether we approve of it or not -- as the leader of the Palestinian people, and he will be the leader of the Palestinian people whether he is sitting in Ramallah or whether he is sitting in some exile location elsewhere, in the Middle East or somewhere in Europe. He will still have that role."

Powell called for pressure on Arafat and other leaders to adopt the plan proposed last year by CIA Director George Tenet that would lead to a cease-fire. (Tenet plan)

Reacting to comments from former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright that he should be more actively involved in the peace process, Powell said he and others in the administration are deeply engaged in Middle East developments.

This involvement, he said, had resulted in progress -- such as helping Arab leaders shape the summit that endorsed Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah's "vision" of peace, Vice President Dick Cheney's recent trip to the region and negotiations led by U.S. envoy Anthony Zinni to push for a cease-fire.

He said an attack on an Israeli seaside hotel at the beginning of Passover and subsequent suicide bombings targeting Israelis had thwarted progress.

Powell added he is "prepared to go anywhere, anytime when it serves a useful purpose."

Also in a CNN interview, former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would not have "isolated" Arafat.

"I would have put him on a terror ship and let him go to his friends in Baghdad," Netanyahu said. "I do believe that Arafat can be made irrelevant by simply removing him," not killing him.

Once Arafat is gone, Netanyahu said, there will be "more moderate and sane people" among the Palestinians for negotiations.

Erakat said when he hears such statements from Sharon and Netanyahu "that shows what kind of people lead Israel today."

"I don't think anyone in a sane mind would accept exile from his own country."



 
 
 
 







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