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by zionist oppression
Saturday, Sep. 13, 2003 at 10:44 PM
ISRAEL IS DEMOCRATIC?
FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION?
THINK AGAIN....
JERUSALEM - Israeli leaders shrugged off condemnation of their decision to "remove" Yasser Arafat whenever they choose, saying Friday the Palestinian leader should have been ousted long ago and the world has no right to judge a nation facing constant suicide bombings.
Words of caution, regret and anger rolled in from country after country a day after Israel made the vaguely worded decision that it would act to remove Arafat. The threat sparked pro-Arafat marches by thousands of supporters in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and drew opposition from the European Union, the United Nations Arab countries, as well as the United States.
"In the early hours of this morning the phones rang from all over the world," Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said. "They're asking us to do nothing against Yasser Arafat. Has the world turned on its head?"
Countries expressing concern ranged from Switzerland to Pakistan. Italy, Russia, Germany and Britain also voiced disapproval.
"We believe it would be a terrible mistake that would have serious consequences across the whole region," EU spokesman Diego Ojeda said.
Arafat emerged from his compound in Ramallah for a second straight night Friday and rallied supporters, saying: "To Jerusalem we are going as martyrs in the millions." The crowd held photos of Arafat and chanted: "With our blood and souls we will redeem you." Arafat answered: "With our blood and souls, we will redeem you Palestine."
As the crowd left, a dozen Palestinians remained behind in the compound and set up tents, saying they would act as human shields if Israeli troops try to seize their leader.
Israel, however, pulled back from any immediate operation and on Friday abandoned lookout positions on top floors of two buildings overlooking Arafat's compound.
Secretary of State Colin Powell telephoned both Shalom and the Palestinian foreign minister to emphasize the United States' opposition to exiling Arafat. White House spokesman Scott McClellan said "it would not help matters; it would only serve to give him a broader stage."
The Palestinians urged the U.N. Security Council to demand that Israel stop the expulsion. The Council discussed a resolution late Friday and then adjourned until Monday, despite Palestinian pressure for a quick vote.
Israel's government says that as long as the 74-year-old Arafat continues to wield authority, peacemaking efforts will fail. Still, Israel made no move to oust him from Ramallah, and on Friday even abandoned lookout positions on top floors of two buildings overlooking his compound.
The Israeli threats only seemed to bolster Arafat, who has been trapped in his office for nearly two years by troops and threats that he might not be allowed back.
In Jerusalem, meanwhile, police stormed the city's most hotly disputed holy site Friday, firing tear gas and stun grenades to disperse Muslim worshippers who police said threw stones down at Jewish worshippers at the Western Wall. Some witnesses said they didn't see stones thrown. There were no injuries reported, and crowds quickly dispersed. Police blamed Arafat for the disturbance.
Israel's security Cabinet announced its decision in principle Thursday, two days after twin Palestinian suicide bombings killed 15 Israelis. In their statement, Israeli leaders declared Arafat "a complete obstacle" to peace and said "Israel will work to remove this obstacle in the manner, at the time, and in the ways that will be decided on separately."
That wording makes room for several options: deporting Arafat, capturing him or killing him. The Israeli daily Haaretz reported that when Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz talked of KILLING Arafat during the Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon asked him not to use that term.
Some Israeli critics accused Sharon of making empty threats. "The bottom line is that they're not expelling Arafat," said Emannuel Rosen, diplomatic correspondent for Israel's Channel 10 TV. "This is a virtual game we're playing among ourselves — undignified, not serious."
Abroad, however, there was concern Israel might act and condemnation of the decision was widespread. France warned that expelling Arafat would be an error and the Arab League said Israel had in effect "declared war" on the peace process.
"It would be unwise to expel him," U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said.
Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath said Powell told him in a phone call that the United States pressed Israel to call off any immediate move against Arafat. He said Powell also gave assurances that the United States would push Israel to meet key commitments of the stalled "road map" peace plan, in particular to withdraw forces from Palestinian cities and freeze settlement construction.
Mofaz, meanwhile, insisted Israel would act against Arafat. Speaking ahead of a meeting with U.S. Ambassador Daniel Kurtzer — and with Kurtzer at his side — Mofaz said, "I am convinced the state of Israel has in the past made a historic mistake by not taking this decision earlier."
The Israeli decision meant that Sharon and Mofaz could decide on expelling Arafat without reconvening the Cabinet. Maj. Gen. Giora Eiland confirmed there are operational plans to carry out an expulsion, saying in comments carried by Israel TV that "there can be several plans for different situations."
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LATEST COMMENTS ABOUT THIS ARTICLE
Listed below are the 10 latest comments of 95 posted about this article.
These comments are anonymously submitted by the website visitors.
TITLE |
AUTHOR |
DATE |
to zionist oppression |
nonanarchist |
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 2:42 PM |
Logical Fallacy |
debate coach's mentor |
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 2:45 PM |
Look, idiot. |
nonanarchist |
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 2:53 PM |
nonanarchist |
Scottie |
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 2:55 PM |
I just did, you idiot. |
nonanarchist |
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 2:58 PM |
nonanarchist |
Scottie |
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 3:01 PM |
A Play in One Act |
nonanarchist |
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 8:10 PM |
No, Not the end |
just the beginning--j.fish |
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 8:19 PM |
Well, said, j.fish |
nonanarchist |
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 8:33 PM |
8:10am-8:19am-8:33am |
talking with myself |
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 8:41 PM |
What's the matter, talking? |
nonanarchist |
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 8:48 PM |
arafat the terrorist?..well gosh.. |
fishies d'jonathan |
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 9:09 PM |
nonanarchist is a lying sack of shit |
nonanarchist is a pussy fag |
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 10:43 PM |
^ |
nonanarchist |
Monday, Sep. 15, 2003 at 12:05 AM |
by the way |
Scottie |
Tuesday, Sep. 16, 2003 at 12:47 AM |
nonanarchist...non-military |
heehoowhowho? |
Tuesday, Sep. 16, 2003 at 3:21 AM |
^ |
nonanarchist |
Wednesday, Sep. 17, 2003 at 1:38 PM |
nonanarchist |
Wurm Killer |
Wednesday, Sep. 17, 2003 at 1:40 PM |
I don't care if anyone... |
nonanarchist |
Wednesday, Sep. 17, 2003 at 3:01 PM |
Logical Fallacy |
debate coach's mentor |
Wednesday, Sep. 17, 2003 at 4:25 PM |
so... |
not that bastard again |
Wednesday, Sep. 17, 2003 at 4:34 PM |
Cyberterrorist |
nonanarchist |
Wednesday, Sep. 17, 2003 at 4:42 PM |
come on... |
pfc |
Wednesday, Sep. 17, 2003 at 4:44 PM |
^ |
nonanarchist |
Wednesday, Sep. 17, 2003 at 5:05 PM |
By the way... |
nonanarchist |
Wednesday, Sep. 17, 2003 at 5:10 PM |
old school |
;pok |
Wednesday, Sep. 17, 2003 at 6:03 PM |
I'll answer your question... |
nonanarchist |
Wednesday, Sep. 17, 2003 at 6:25 PM |
OneEyedMan |
KPC |
Wednesday, Sep. 17, 2003 at 6:37 PM |
It should be simple enough, |
nonanarchist |
Wednesday, Sep. 17, 2003 at 6:43 PM |
OneEyedMan |
KPC |
Wednesday, Sep. 17, 2003 at 6:57 PM |
"....so let me guess...Iraq hid the WMD's on Olympic Mons....?" |
nonanarchist |
Wednesday, Sep. 17, 2003 at 7:13 PM |
tinfoil? |
Sheepdog |
Wednesday, Sep. 17, 2003 at 7:27 PM |
OneEyedMan |
KPC |
Wednesday, Sep. 17, 2003 at 8:33 PM |
Running Out of Gas |
Ffutal |
Wednesday, Sep. 17, 2003 at 9:02 PM |
OneEyedMan |
KPC |
Wednesday, Sep. 17, 2003 at 9:07 PM |
Lying? No. |
nonanarchist |
Wednesday, Sep. 17, 2003 at 9:08 PM |
OneEyedMan |
KPC |
Wednesday, Sep. 17, 2003 at 9:26 PM |
Whatever you say, Chicken Boy. |
nonanarchist |
Wednesday, Sep. 17, 2003 at 9:36 PM |
Whatever you say, Chicken Boy. |
nonanarchist |
Wednesday, Sep. 17, 2003 at 9:38 PM |
.. |
.. |
Wednesday, Sep. 17, 2003 at 11:15 PM |
Saddam for President? |
Ffutal |
Thursday, Sep. 18, 2003 at 6:05 PM |
losers lunch |
nonanarchist is paid military shill |
Thursday, Sep. 18, 2003 at 6:53 PM |
You think Hitler took control on one day? |
history buff |
Thursday, Sep. 18, 2003 at 7:02 PM |
Not only that.... |
pointer |
Thursday, Sep. 18, 2003 at 7:13 PM |
^ |
nonanarchist |
Thursday, Sep. 18, 2003 at 7:19 PM |
LOSERS LUNCH |
NONANARCHIST IS MILITARY SHILL |
Thursday, Sep. 18, 2003 at 7:54 PM |
OneEyedMan |
KPC |
Thursday, Sep. 18, 2003 at 10:13 PM |
"CAP LOCK" & KPC |
sothere |
Thursday, Sep. 18, 2003 at 10:26 PM |
Time began before the 1930's! |
history buff |
Thursday, Sep. 18, 2003 at 10:40 PM |
sothere is right. |
nonanarchist |
Thursday, Sep. 18, 2003 at 11:01 PM |
what a fucking idiot |
Q&A |
Thursday, Sep. 18, 2003 at 11:13 PM |
So, then... |
nonanarchist |
Thursday, Sep. 18, 2003 at 11:21 PM |
kpfk gets money from arabs and muslims |
Dick Long |
Friday, Sep. 19, 2003 at 1:21 PM |
Irish Writer Protests "Peace" Hypocrites |
Dick Humongous |
Friday, Sep. 19, 2003 at 1:39 PM |
OneEyedMan |
KPC |
Friday, Sep. 19, 2003 at 3:56 PM |
KPC |
cpk |
Friday, Sep. 19, 2003 at 4:24 PM |
OneEyedMan |
KPC |
Friday, Sep. 19, 2003 at 5:34 PM |
KPC |
cpk |
Friday, Sep. 19, 2003 at 5:50 PM |
OneEyedMan |
KPC |
Friday, Sep. 19, 2003 at 6:02 PM |
KPC |
gambler |
Friday, Sep. 19, 2003 at 6:11 PM |
OneEyedMan |
KPC |
Friday, Sep. 19, 2003 at 6:35 PM |
KPC |
gambler |
Friday, Sep. 19, 2003 at 6:37 PM |
OneEyedMan |
KPC |
Friday, Sep. 19, 2003 at 6:38 PM |
KPC |
gambler |
Friday, Sep. 19, 2003 at 6:42 PM |
OneEyedMan |
KPC |
Friday, Sep. 19, 2003 at 7:05 PM |
Our Strategy |
annie & libby |
Friday, Sep. 19, 2003 at 7:10 PM |
OneEyedMan |
KPC |
Friday, Sep. 19, 2003 at 7:21 PM |
yes and we know the huge demographics |
Spit on this |
Friday, Sep. 19, 2003 at 7:21 PM |
Tax Rates |
ya |
Friday, Sep. 19, 2003 at 7:49 PM |
OneEyedMan |
KPC |
Friday, Sep. 19, 2003 at 8:18 PM |
KPC |
OneEyedMan |
Friday, Sep. 19, 2003 at 8:37 PM |
time for a new handle? |
nonanarchist |
Friday, Sep. 19, 2003 at 9:45 PM |
One more thing, Chicken Boy: |
nonanarchist |
Friday, Sep. 19, 2003 at 9:49 PM |
this is a sanctioned activity |
. |
Friday, Sep. 19, 2003 at 10:08 PM |
nonanarchist |
anarchist |
Friday, Sep. 19, 2003 at 10:14 PM |
Well then, "." |
nonanarchist |
Friday, Sep. 19, 2003 at 11:14 PM |
What are you afraid of, anarchist? |
nonanarchist |
Friday, Sep. 19, 2003 at 11:17 PM |
I deal with criticism 24/7. |
@ |
Friday, Sep. 19, 2003 at 11:29 PM |
You have me confused... |
nonanarchist |
Friday, Sep. 19, 2003 at 11:34 PM |
BUT I AM A LIAR |
DAVEMAN=NONANARCHIST |
Saturday, Sep. 20, 2003 at 6:05 AM |
Changing your handles makes you a liar? |
nonanarchist |
Saturday, Sep. 20, 2003 at 7:31 AM |
OneEyedMan |
KPC |
Saturday, Sep. 20, 2003 at 6:19 PM |
Simple |
Simple Simon |
Saturday, Sep. 20, 2003 at 6:38 PM |
Chicken Boy |
nonanarchist |
Saturday, Sep. 20, 2003 at 6:58 PM |
OneEyedMan |
KPC |
Saturday, Sep. 20, 2003 at 7:11 PM |
KPC |
fo |
Saturday, Sep. 20, 2003 at 7:25 PM |
Chicken Boy |
nonanarchist |
Saturday, Sep. 20, 2003 at 7:42 PM |
OneEyedMan |
KPC |
Saturday, Sep. 20, 2003 at 8:22 PM |
OneEyedMan |
KPC |
Saturday, Sep. 20, 2003 at 8:26 PM |
dismissal? |
john fish |
Saturday, Sep. 20, 2003 at 8:27 PM |
Chicken Boy and Johnny |
nonanarchist |
Sunday, Sep. 21, 2003 at 11:25 PM |
Nobel prize |
mymicz |
Saturday, Sep. 27, 2003 at 3:38 PM |
Blatant racism!!! |
Bones |
Thursday, Oct. 16, 2003 at 6:33 PM |
truth DEAL WITH IT |
RATM |
Friday, Oct. 17, 2003 at 6:15 AM |
truth DEAL WITH IT |
RATM |
Friday, Oct. 17, 2003 at 6:17 AM |
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