Sharon: Arafat possible target of assassination

By Mark Lavie
The Associated Press

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JERUSALEM — Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Lebanese guerrilla chief Hassan Nasrallah could become targets for assassination, Israel's prime minister Ariel Sharon said in interviews published today.

Sharon also hinted at a timetable for a withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and said Israel would evacuate four West Bank settlements at the same time, the first time he has given an exact number.

Sharon told the Maariv daily he hopes that by spring 2005, "we will be in the midst of disengagement, because disengagement is good for Israel."

Sharon has said he would leave the final decision on a withdrawal to his divided Likud party. He has planned a binding referendum among 200,000 party members after his return from an April 14 meeting with President Bush.

Sharon's interviews with the Maariv, Yediot Ahronot and Haaretz dailies were seen as the opening of his campaign for the withdrawal plan.

Asked by Haaretz whether Arafat and Nasrallah are targets for assassination, Sharon said: "I wouldn't suggest that either of them feel immune ... Anyone who kills a Jew or harms an Israeli citizen or sends people to kill Jews is a marked man. Period."

Sharon told Maariv Arafat "has no insurance policy." He added that "today, everyone knows Arafat is the obstacle (blocking) any progress."

Israel's army chief, Lt. Gen. Moshe Yaalon, made veiled threats against Arafat and Nasrallah last week, after Israel assassinated Hamas founder Sheik Ahmed Yassin. However, at the time, security officials said privately that there were no immediate plans to target the two.

Sharon repeatedly has accused Arafat of involvement in attacks on Israelis, saying he encourages and finances militants. Nasrallah said earlier this week Hezbollah will help Hamas avenge the Yassin killing.
 
In September, Israel's Cabinet decided Arafat should be "removed," an intentionally vague statement that could mean he would be expelled or killed. However, Israel has not acted on the threat.

For more than two years, Israel has confined Arafat to his headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

Sharon told Haaretz that once Israel completes its West Bank separation barrier, Palestinians living illegally in Israel will be expelled. He said tens of thousands of them are in Israeli Arab villages. Regarding the Gaza withdrawal, Sharon said it was in Israel's interest. "We need to get out of Gaza, not to be responsible anymore for what happens there," he said.

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