Israeli Security Officials Consider Raiding Arafat's Compound

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, April 28, 2002

Israeli Security Officials Consider Raiding Arafat's Compound

Israeli security officials have started to discuss the possibility of mounting an assault on Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's compound in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

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Israeli security officials have started to discuss the possibility of mounting an assault on Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's compound in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

The action would be designed to seize four Palestinians wanted for the assassination of Israeli cabinet minister Rehavam Ze'evi, and a Palestinian official implicated in the weapon-smuggling affair of Karine A ship.

Israel has demanded the extradition of the five suspects, who are believed to hide in Arafat's compound. But the demand was refused by Arafat, citing that the agreements between the Palestinians and Israel only require that such suspects stand trial in the Palestinian territories.

The Israeli troops have completed the withdrawal from the West Bank city of Nablus and parts of Ramallah Sunday morning, under the pressure from the United States.

In a radio address Saturday, U.S. President George W. Bush said that Israel must continue its withdrawal from Palestinian cities.

"All parties must realize that the only long-term solution is for two states - Israel and Palestine - to live side-by-side in security and peace. This will require hard choices and real leadership by the Israelis and Palestinians, and their Arab neighbors," Bush said.

The Bush administration also warned Israel not to raid Arafat's compound, saying that any harm to Arafat, even if it was accidental, was "likely to lead to a catastrophe of unimaginable dimensions."

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, in his visit to the region last week, also demanded that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon refrain from ordering a raid on the compound, stressing that the suspects' extradition should be resolved through diplomatic channels, but not military ways.

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