World Tribune.com

Home Systems: Dell Computers

Sharon seeks Bush OK for attack that could end Arafat era

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Sunday, December 2, 2001

WASHINGTON Ñ In his meeting with President George Bush today, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon may seek U.S. backing for a counterattack that would either exile Yasser Arafat or destroy the Palestinian Authority altogether.

Sharon had been scheduled to meet Bush on Monday. But aides said Bush has agreed to meet Sharon at Sunday noon Eastern Standard Time in the wake of two devastating suicide bombings over the weekend that killed at least 25 Israelis.

Sharon Saturday pressed for an immediate meeting with the president to discuss options for a military campaign against Palestinian terrorism. Aides said Sharon wants to relay to Bush an urgent message that Israel must respond to the latest wave of Palestinian attacks in Israeli cities, Middle East Newsline reported.

The aides said Sharon could seek a green light for an Israeli attack that could topple the Palestinian Authority.

The two options being examined by Sharon, the aides said, is whether to exile PA Chairman Arafat from the Palestinian areas and leave PA security agencies intact, or to destroy the Palestinian regime entirely. The aides said Sharon's security Cabinet would discuss the options over the next day.

"Now more than ever, Chairman Arafat and the Palestinian Authority must demonstrate through their actions, and not merely their words, their commitment to fight terror," Bush said in a statement. "Chairman Arafat and the Palestinian Authority must immediately find and arrest those responsible for the hideous murders. They must also act swiftly and decisively against the organizations that support them."

On late Saturday, two Palestinian suicide bombers blew themselves up in downtown Jerusalem Ñ killing 10 and injuring about 180 people. Israeli authorities said a third bomb exploded from a nearby car on late Saturday in the cafe district of the city. The district was packed with youngsters.

Another suicide bombing Sunday killed 10 passengers on a bus in the Israeli city of Haifa. Initial reports said at least one and possibly two buses exploded on Sunday afternoon. Authorities said at least 40 people were injured in the blast.

The bombers were said to have been sent by the Islamic opposition Hamas movement. Hamas had pledged to avenge the Israeli assassination of bomber Mahmoud Abu Hanoud. Nobody has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Earlier, Israel tightened the siege on the West Bank in wake of a wave of Palestinian attacks in the Jewish state.

Palestinian sources said Israeli troops and tanks have ringed such cities as Jenin, Kalkilya, Nablus and Tulkarm over the weekend. They said the troops also entered Jenin.

Print this Article Print this Article Email this article Email this article Subscribe to this Feature Free Headline Alerts