"Killing Arafat would be a disaster for Israel, the entire region and the world," Avnery said

RAMALLAH, West Bank, October 5 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Fearing Israel might exploit Haifa bombing to "remove" Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, thirty Israeli and foreign pacifists formed a human shield abound the Ramallah headquarters of the veteran Palestinian leader.

"We came here because we realized the suicide bombing in Haifa with its many casualties would provide an ideal pretext for (Israeli Prime Minister) Ariel Sharon to do what he wants to do for a long time -- to kill Arafat," former Knesset member Uri Avnery, who arrived with seven members of the Israeli pacifist group Gush Shalom (Peace Bloc), told Agence France Press (AFP) Sunday, October 5.

"We rushed here from Gush Shalom to provide a human shield and perhaps be able to prevent the Israeli army from executing its plans.

"We will stay here as long as we feel there is a danger," he added, asserting that "killing Arafat would be a disaster for Israel, the entire region and the world."

Also, some 20 members of the pacifist group International Solidarity Movement flocked to Arafat’s headquarters, saying they intended to stay till the day after the Jewish religious feast of Yom Kippur, AFP added.

"It is comforting to see Israeli friends here rather than Israeli tanks," said Nabil Abu Rudeina, Arafat's main adviser.

"Sharon must understand that there is only one political situation, sitting down and negotiating peace, without the separation wall, without the assassinations, and without the incursions," he continued.

"We are committed to the roadmap and ready to negotiate," maintained the Palestinian official.

Haifa blast, which came after Israeli occupation forces gunned down two Palestinians, including a child, in Tulkarem Saturday, October 4, left 20 people dead including 29-year-old Palestinian female lawyer Hanadi Jaradat who carried the attack.

No Immediate Expulsion

Israel will not immediately expel Arafat from his West Bank headquarters but the "clock is ticking" towards the Palestinian leader's removal, a senior Israeli official said Sunday.

"When the time comes he will be expelled. The clock is already ticking," he told AFP on condition of anonymity.

"The Americans and the Europeans do not understand yet that Yasser Arafat is an arch-terrorist and represents the principle obstacle to all negotiations ... but this will happen one day," he said.

Israeli Health Minister Dany Naveh said in the immediate aftermath of Saturday's attack that Israel should follow through with its removal decision.

But Education Minister Limor Livnat said Sunday that the Israelis should impose a "watertight closure" around Arafat's offices, where he has been confined for some 22 months.

The Israeli security cabinet formally approved Arafat's "removal" on September 11, with one minister even suggesting he could be assassinated, after declaring the veteran Palestinian leader an absolute obstacle to peace.

That decision prompted a widespread show of support for Arafat among Palestinians and widespread international condemnation.

The United States vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning the decision, but the U.N. General Assembly later overwhelmingly passed a non-binding resolution calling on Israel not to expel Arafat.

Arafat Urges Ceasefire

"President Arafat has renewed his appeal for a ceasefire on condition that Israel also accepts the ceasefire and that the Quartet oversees its implementation," Palestinian cabinet minister Yasser Abed Rabbo told reporters after a meeting of the PLO executive committee, chaired by Arafat.

Calling for a similar truce last month, Arafat's offer was swiftly dismissed as a "honey-trap" by Israeli officials.

The PLO condemned the attack, but also attacked the Israeli government which last week decided to push ahead with the next stage of a separation wall that at times cuts deep into Palestinian land in the West Bank.

In a further provocation, the Israeli housing ministry announced tenders to build as many as 600 housing units in Jewish settlements in the West Bank.