Israeli Foreign Minister Sylvan Shalom has called for Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to be expelled from the Palestinian territories. The minister made his call during a meeting of the Parliament's foreign affairs and defence committee. There has been growing pressure from members of the Sharon Government to hold Yasser Arafat personally responsible for violence against Israel, including five suicide bombings in 48 hours earlier this week. Army radio reported on Tuesday that the Foreign Ministry was working on a plan to declare Mr Arafat persona non-grata and to eject him from his battered fortress in Ramallah, to seek political asylum somewhere in Europe.
Mr Arafat has remained in self-imposed isolation in the fortress for more than a year now, fearing that any move to leave would see the building stormed by Israel.
| Any move to leave will see the door locked behind him. |
|