OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, 28 October 2003 — Prime Minister Ariel Sharon assured visiting European lawmakers yesterday that Israel has no plans to kill Yasser Arafat, even as he accused the Palestinian leader of continuing to orchestrate attacks on civilians. Sharon delivered his assessment as Israel confirmed plans to begin providing services to eight settlement outposts in the West Bank. The announcement dealt another blow to the faltering US-backed peace plan.
In another development, Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei said that he is making progress in talks with militants about halting fighting with Israel.
Sharon met with a delegation of lawmakers from the European Parliament, where he was asked about Arafat. Israel’s Cabinet last month decided to “remove” Arafat at an unspecified time in response to Palestinian suicide bomb attacks, prompting speculation that the Palestinian leader would be expelled or assassinated.
“I don’t see any plans to kill him,” Sharon told the lawmakers, while accusing Arafat of orchestrating attacks on Israelis during three years of fighting.
“You don’t have to worry, he’s alive and not only is he alive but very active in taking all the ... steps ... that bring to murder of children, civilians, the old,” Sharon said.
Sharon was also asked whether it is right to build new settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, areas where the Palestinians hope to establish an independent homeland.
“We do not build now. We do not aid a new settlement there or Jewish communities there,” Sharon said. “If sometimes it happens, the army removes them.”
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat accused Israel of systematically sabotaging the plan. “These actions have to be condemned by the United States and the Quartet (of Mideast mediators) and I call upon them to intervene immediately,” Erekat said.
Qorei said that talks with various Palestinian factions on reaching a cease-fire are progressing, but that the final decision would depend on Israel.
“There is an ongoing dialogue and we are having dialogue with everyone, and there is a dialogue between the factions themselves,” Qorei said at a news conference.
“We are working toward a mutual cease-fire,” he added. “If they (Israel) are ready, then we are also ready.” But if Israel doesn’t accept the initiative, he cautioned, “there is no meaning to a cease-fire.”
Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom ruled out a cease-fire, saying that militants had exploited a period of quiet over the summer to rearm.
“There is no way to achieve peace while the infrastructure of the terrorist organizations still exists,” Shalom said. “We can’t accept any proposal of one more cease-fire.”
The militant group Hamas, which just several days earlier had taken part in a deadly attack on a Jewish settlement in Gaza, said Sunday it was ready to hear Qorei’s truce proposals. Egypt also confirmed its participation in the truce talks yesterday.
Qorei’s term as head of an emergency Cabinet expires Nov. 4, just a month after he took office, and he has said he does not want to continue as prime minister. However, there is growing expectation that Arafat will reappoint Qorei.
