[Oldeconomybuyer]

Arafat ready to die -  - Palestinian minister Shaath

    BEIRUT, March 29 (Reuters) - Palestinian leader Yasser 
Arafat is ready to die in a confrontation with Israeli forces 
who smashed their way into his compound in the West Bank, 
Palestinian Planning Minister Nabil Shaath said on Friday. 
    "He is calm, he is steadfast, he is sure, not afraid of 
death. He never was," Shaath told Reuters television in Beirut, 
adding that he was in touch by telephone with Arafat. 
    Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, calling Arafat an 
enemy, said he had decided to send troops to Ramallah, blaming 
the Palestinian leader for failing to prevent attacks against 
Israelis during the past 18 months of an uprising against 
occupation. 
    Five Palestinians and one Israeli soldier were killed in 
gunbattles on Friday after about 100 tanks and armoured 
personnel carriers entered Ramallah. Israeli armour surrounded 
Arafat's office and took over at least one building inside the 
compound. 
    The raid came a day after an Arab summit in Beirut backed a 
Saudi peace initiative offering Israel normal ties with Arab 
states in exchange for its withdrawal from occupied Arab land 
and allowing the establishment of a Palestinian state. 
    Shaath said Israeli forces were killing civilians on the 
street. "It is like a duck shoot," he said, adding that he would 
try to join Arafat in the West Bank on Friday. 
    He said Israeli "tanks and and heavy armoured cars are just 
three yards below his (Arafat's) office...". 
    ((Beirut editorial +9611 983885, fax +9611 983889, 
beirut.newsroom@reuters.com))

[RJCogburn]

"He is calm, he is steadfast, he is sure, not afraid of death. He never was,"

That would be the expected answer. I wonder. He has been so adaptable in his actions to retain his power. Is he still a true believer, or has he become hooked on the power and percs of his position?

[AIBC]

Arafat ready to die? This is just posturing! The whole WORLD knows that the Israelis have promised the US to keep him alive and this is exactly what they have been doing. They have fired rockets at his facilities and tried to destroy his PA logistically but they have never tried to kill him and they are not going to do it now. If this human garbage has any conscience at all I would like to see him do the thing he has been sending others to do -- wrap one of those bomb bells and go blow himself up.

[Petronski]

"Arafat ready to die" - - Palestinian minister Shaath

Well, that would be some prudent planning.

[Anamensis]

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is ready to die...

Wow! What an incredible coincidence! Because I'm ready for Yasser Arafat to die, too! I never knew we had so much in common!