JERUSALEM/ WEST BANK: INCREASED SECURITY FOLLOWING NEW SUICIDE BOMBING ALERTS/ ISRAELI CABINET DISCUSS ARAFAT

Record ID: 566225

  • Title: JERUSALEM/ WEST BANK: INCREASED SECURITY FOLLOWING NEW SUICIDE BOMBING ALERTS/ ISRAELI CABINET DISCUSS ARAFAT
  • Date: 14th September 2003
  • Summary: (W3) JERUSALEM (SEPTEMBER 14, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. SLV ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER ARIEL SHARON ARRIVING TO THE CABINET MEETING 0.11 2. SLV ISRAELI FINANCE MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU ARRIVING FOR CABINET 0.24 3. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAEL'S VICE PREMIER EHUD OLMERT SAYING: "Mr. Arafat is a murderer and a killer. It has been decided by the Israeli government that unfortunately, under the circumstances inevitably, we will have to focus on the murderers and those who inspire the murderers and orchestrate the operations and if necessary to get rid of them. Arafat is not excluded." 0.56 4. SLV OLMERT WALKING AWAY 1.02 5. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) MINISTER OF EDUCATION AND CULTURE, LIMOR LIVNAT, SAYING: "I think it is understood that there is not difference between Saddam Hussein, Bin Laden, between Ahmed Yassin and Yasser Arafat. All those are terrorists and obstacles to peace." 1.22 6. VARIOUS OF SHARON AT CABINET MEETING (4 SHOTS) 1.49 (UNKNOWN LOCATIONS) (REUTERS) 7. VARIOUS OF ISRAELI TROOPS CHECKING VEHICLES 2.03 8. SMV PEOPLE LOOKING ON 2.08 9. SLV ISRAELI TROOPS BY ROAD STOPPING VEHICLES 2.19 10. SLV ISRAELI SECURITY WATCHING 2.24 (W3) RAMALLAH, WEST BANK (SEPTEMBER 14, 2003) (REUTERS) 11. VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT YASSER ARAFAT'S COMPOUND (3 SHOTS) 2.52 12. VARIOUS OF PALESTINIAN FLAG FLYING FROM BUILDING (2 SHOTS) 3.06 13. (NIGHT SHOTS WIDE OF TROOPS OUTSIDE HOUSE BEING RAIDED 3.13 14. VARIOUS OF SOUND OF SHOOTING/ TROOPS TAKING POSITIONS (6 SHOTS) 4.13 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 29th September 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: JERUSALEM/RAMALLAH, WEST BANK
  • City:
  • Country: Palestinian Territories
  • Reuters ID: LVAEDHGYS7DXWIEGTM6N4R3EKV99
  • Story Text: Israel's vice premier has said killing Arafat is an
    option while security remains high following new alerts of
    suicide bombings.




    Israel's vice premier said on Sunday (September 14),
    that killing Palestinian President Yasser Arafat was an
    option in its threat to "remove" him as an obstacle to
    peace.

    "Mr. Arafat is a murderer and a killer. It has been
    decided by the Israeli government that unfortunately, under
    the circumstances inevitably, we will have to focus on the
    murderers and those who inspire the murderers and
    orchestrate the operations and if necessary to get rid of
    them. Arafat is not excluded," Olmert told reporters ahead
    of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's weekly cabinet
    meeting on Sunday (September 14).

    Israel's security cabinet decided to "remove" Arafat
    after two suicide bombings killed 15 Israelis on Tuesday
    (September 11), the latest surge of violence in a
    three-year-old Palestinian uprising for statehood. But it
    did not say when it would move against him.

    The vague wording left room for several options,
    including exiling, isolating or killing Arafat -- a
    proposal which media reports said hardline Defence Minister
    Shaul Mofaz raised but Sharon shot down.

    The Israeli threat sparked an international outcry,
    with Washington -- Israel's main ally -- joining in a
    chorus of calls not to expel Arafat, a veteran symbol of
    Palestinian aspirations for independence.

    With U.S. backing, Israel blames Arafat for fomenting
    militant violence -- a charge he denies -- and calls him an
    obstacle to peace.

    "I think it is understood that there is not difference
    between Saddam Hussein, Bin Laden, between Ahmed Yassin and
    Yasser Arafat. All those are terrorists and obstacles to
    peace," said Minister Of Education And Culture, Limor
    Livnat.

    Arafat, has been confined to the "Muqata" compound for
    the past 21 months by Israeli army roadblocks and patrols
    in Ramallah.

    Security was heightened in Jerusalem following new
    alerts for possible suicide bombings.

    In Ramallah, Israeli troops raided a house and arrest a
    suspected Palestinian, in the latest sweep for militants in
    the West Bank. Israel says it will keep up military action
    until Palestinian authorities crack down on militant groups
    as required by the peace plan, which sets out reciprocal
    steps leading to establishment of a Palestinian state in
    Israeli-occupied territory.


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