Israel Army Ready to Oust Arafat if Ordered-Report
Perhaps the time has come. Actually, it has long-since been time for Israel to remove what is likely the single largest roadblock to peace- Yasir Arafat. Normally, I'm not one to advocate state-sanctioned assassination (or failing that, a state-sanctioned coup), but Arafat has clearly demonstrated his lack of resolve when it comes to reigning in Palestinian murder addicts bent on blowing Israelis into the sea limb by limb.
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The Israeli army is ready to "remove" Palestinian President Yasser Arafat if the government gives the order, the Jerusalem Post newspaper reported on Thursday, citing a senior military source.
The report in the right-wing daily, which recently editorialized in favor of killing Arafat, followed a decision in principle by Israel's security cabinet last month to "remove" the Palestinian leader. The ministers did not say how or when.
The threat against Arafat, a 74-year-old symbol of Palestinian nationalism, sparked worldwide outcry and drew cautions from Israel's key ally Washington as it struggles to revive an international "road map" to Middle East peace. "We have presented plans showing the risks and the chances of the operation itself, including the options to remove him alive or not," the Post quoted the military source as saying.
"The government has to make a decision to allow the army to act. The army is ready," the source was quoted as saying. The Post did not provide further details. The army declined comment.
Arafat has been confined to his West Bank compound in Ramallah for much of the past two years, accused by Israel and the United States or fomenting violence in a Palestinian uprising that erupted in September 2000. He denies it.
Israeli security sources said commandos in the past year have rehearsed snatching Arafat and expelling him to a third country, possibly in North Africa.
Arafat has vowed to fight to the death if Israel tries to exile him.
IF Arafat had demonstrated some degree of willingness to find a road to peace that didn't involve blowing up innocent Israelis, there might be hope for him. As it is, Arafat needs to depart the scene- now. If it takes a few dozen Israeli tank shells to hasten the process, so be it.
