Arafat blasts Israeli exile threat

RAMALLAH - A defiant Palestinian President Yasser Arafat has condemned an Israeli threat to exile him as a bid to block Palestinian independence, and appealed for international intervention.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians rallied in support of Arafat in the occupied territories, shooting guns into the air in Gaza City, and forming a human chain and vowing to sacrifice their lives at his battered headquarters in Ramallah.

Violence erupted in the city of Nablus, where Israeli troops killed an elderly bystander during clashes with Palestinian gunmen.

Israel cited self-defence as justification for a Cabinet decision to "remove" Arafat after two suicide bombings last Wednesday that killed 15 Israelis - the latest surge of violence in a three-year-old Palestinian uprising for statehood.

"The danger here concerns Israel's determination to cancel the Palestinian partner and the Palestinian Authority," Arafat told diplomats and dovish Israelis who visited him to mark the 10th anniversary of interim accords that gave Palestinians limited self-rule.

He said he was still committed to the latest peace drive, a US-backed "roadmap" to Palestinian statehood by 2005.

"I appeal to you, the Israeli people. Together we can make peace," Arafat said. "All this requires the international community to pressure Israel to stop its policy."

With US backing, Israel blames Arafat for fomenting militant violence - a charge he denies. But Washington does not want the 74-year-old former guerrilla leader exiled, fearing this would finish off the already tattered roadmap.

The UN Security Council on Saturday echoed US concerns. Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry, of Britain, warned Israel that removing Arafat would be "unhelpful".

Reeling from scores of suicide bombings during the revolt, Israel stood firm.

"No country would allow others to dictate how it should protect its citizens," said Raanan Gissin, spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. "Arafat is a terrorist leader." He said Israel would call up more reservists if necessary to continue "a relentless fight" against militants and prevent further attacks.

Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom denounced Arafat as an "obstacle to peace", and called for world help to "remove this obstacle".

Not all Israelis agreed. The opposition Labour Party criticised the threatened expulsion and accused the Government of "taking steps to halt the peace process".

The issue also mired Palestinian efforts to end a political crisis. Prime Minister-designate Ahmed Qureia has delayed plans to name a Cabinet to replace that of Mahmoud Abbas, a moderate who quit accusing Arafat and Israel of undermining him.

Protesters rallied for Arafat throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip at the weekend.

Tens of thousands thronged Gaza City streets. Some fired assault rifles amid chants: "Our only leader is Arafat."

Arafat addressed them via cellphone hookup, proclaiming support for a "peace of the brave".

Randa Taher and her 12-year-old twin son and daughter were among the thousands of demonstrators who thronged Arafat's headquarters.

"They will have to get past me. I will be part of a human chain to defend him," Taher, 38, said from her protest tent, next to a pile of cars crushed in past raids by Israeli armoured columns.

- REUTERS