Sharon Says Arafat Can Leave on 'One-Way Ticket'

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, April 02, 2002

Sharon Says Arafat Can Leave on 'One-Way Ticket'

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Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said on Tuesday he would let Palestinian President Yasser Arafat leave his besieged headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah only on condition that he would not return to the Palestinian territories.

Sharon said he had received calls from world leaders expressing concern about Arafat's condition and said that he had told them they could send a helicopter to take the Palestinian leader away from Ramallah.

"First of all, I would have to first bring it to the cabinet -- it should be approved. Second, he could not take anyone with him because there are wanted (people) and murderers around him there," Sharon told reporters at a West Bank army base.

"And the third thing is it has got to be one-way ticket. He would not be able to return," he said.

Israel Radio Tuesday also quoted political sources as saying that the Israeli government is considering lifting the travel ban on Arafat provided that he does not come back. The report said thatSharon did not rule out the possibility of Arafat's expulsion when asked by European Union envoy Miguel Moratinos whether Israel wouldpermit Arafat to leave Ramallah.

Palestinians said Arafat, who has sworn to "die a martyr" ratherthan give in to Israel, would in no way agree to leave the territories.

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