| GOPUSA Poll |
| Does Israel have the moral right to defend itself by assassinating leaders of terrorist organizations? |
|
Yes No Undecided Total Votes: 2367 |
| GOPUSA Poll |
Posted on 04/24/2004 3:35:12 PM PDT by yonif
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's threats against Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat were condemned around the world Saturday ahead of a key Likud party vote on Sharon's plan to quit the Gaza Strip.
In the West Bank the Israeli army shot three members of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, a armed group linked to Arafat's Fatah movement, during a series of operations which have already cost 26 Palestinian lives in four days.
US Secretary of State Colin Powell stressed that President George W. Bush was opposed to any attack against Arafat.
"The president made it clear that he would oppose any such attempts against Mr. Arafat, and the president firmly believes that he has a commitment from Prime Minister Sharon that no such attempt will be made," Powell said.
Israeli public radio for its part reported that US National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice had called Sharon's chief of staff, Dov Weisglass, with a similar message.
"I promised President George W. Bush three years ago not to attack Arafat, but I am no longer bound by that promise, and (Arafat) no longer has immunity," Sharon said Friday.
Palestinian prime minister Ahmed Qorei called on the international community Saturday to protect Arafat.
He urged the UN Security Council and "countries concerned with the security of the Middle East" to pressure Sharon to back down from his threat.
"Any such act of folly can only take the region into the abyss and bring about the definitive collapse of peace efforts," he said.
Arafat promised a "million martyrs for Jerusalem" during a rally in the West Bank town of Ramallah, and pleaded for support from world leaders.
"Mr Arafat called this evening on Egyptian, Jordanian, Arab and European leaders to warn them of the consequences of the escalation of the violence in the Palestinian territories and the threats by Sharon against him," said Arafat's chief advisor, Nabil Abu Rudeina.
In Israel, Sharon's threat appeared politically calculated to mollify hardliners within the ruling Likud party ahead of the internal vote on the prime minister's plan to remove Jewish settlements from Gaza.
Likud's 200,000 members are to vote on May 2. Latest opinion polls show that supporters of Sharon's initiative have fallen sharply even though they remain in the majority.
Agriculture Minister and hardline Likud member Israel Katz welcomed the tough talk against the Palestinian leader.
"It is not necessary to hesitate to put this threat into action in the event of a new Palestinian attack" against Israeli targets, he said.
A senior Israeli official said it was not strictly accurate to speak of a "death threat" against the Palestinian leader.
"It's up to Arafat to wear the consequences of his support for terrorism," said the official.
French Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie welcomed the US warning to Israel not to harm Arafat, saying his killing would not solve the problems of the Middle East.
"Murdering people, whether by assassination or attack, is not going to solve the problem," she told a press conference in Oman.
Russia also said it was deeply concerned over threats.
"Moscow has with deep concern learned of the April 23 declaration by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon that he is no longer bound by his earlier promises not to physically harm Yasser Arafat," said Alexander Yakovenko, foreign ministry spokesman.
Meanwhile three Al-Aqsa militants were shot dead by Israeli troops in Jenin as violence rocked the northern West Bank, hospital and security sources said.
The three men were killed in their car by Israeli special forces troops disguised as Palestinians, security sources said, but an Israeli spokeswoman said they had fired from a building on troops coming to arrest them.
Wow. When "the world" warns Arafat against blowing up nightclubs full of teenagers, or hotel restaurants full of families celebrating religious holidays, then I might take "the world" seriously.
Till then... Yassir, you better get your affairs in order.
(steely)
The collapse of 'Pax Romana Islama' of course.
Just do it!
With a $1,000,000 reward ....Wanted Dead or Alive......
| GOPUSA Poll |
| Does Israel have the moral right to defend itself by assassinating leaders of terrorist organizations? |
|
Yes No Undecided Total Votes: 2367 |
| GOPUSA Poll |
Shalom Aleichem!
I agree - Arafat needs to assume room temperature.
If you can't find a sharpshooter, I'm willing to volunteer.
Regards, etc.
mfulstone
BWAHAHAHAHA, What freakin peace efforts? The one where Arafat sanctions blowing up pizza parlors, malls and disco's full of women and children?
Message Sharon: Don't Miss...than it won't be considered an "Attempt"
I personally vote for smoking the terrorist POS
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