“We must kill as many of the Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaders as possible, while minimizing collateral damage, but not letting that damage stop us,” said an editorial in that day’s Jerusalem Post. “And we must kill Yasir Arafat, because the world leaves us no alternative.”

Some 5,000 people condemned the threats at a rally in the Rashidiyeh refugee camp in southern Lebanon. The previous day tens of thousands demonstrated at Arafat’s compound in Ramallah in the West Bank. Israeli attacks over the past 18 months have left the compound partially destroyed. During that time Arafat has been allowed outside the compound’s grounds only once. Israeli warplanes repeatedly screech so low over the area that their weapons can be seen under their wings, reported the September 11 New York Times.

Some 125 members of the Palestine National Council resident in Jordan voted September 13 to renew Arafat’s term as head of the Palestine Liberation Organization, and warned that harming him was “a red line that cannot be crossed.”

The Israeli cabinet declaration followed the September 6 resignation of Palestinian prime minister Mahmoud Abbas, who had been praised by Washington for his support of the U.S.-backed “roadmap to peace.” Over the past week the Israeli armed forces have carried out two attempts to assassinate Hamas leaders, and Hamas launched two suicide bombings that killed 15 people.

Following the cabinet’s declaration, the statements by Israeli officials grew more threatening. “Arafat can no longer be a factor in what happens here,” Ehud Olmert, Israel’s vice prime minister, told Israel radio. “The question is: How are we going to do it? Expulsion is certainly one of the options, and killing is also one of the options. In my eyes, from a moral point of view, this is no different than the eliminations of others who were involved in activating acts of terror.” The Israeli armed forces have carried out a series of assassinations of Hamas and other leaders over the past two years. Olmert said Israel could also sever Arafat’s communications with the outside world.

The U.S. government, which has refused to talk to Arafat since June 2002, expressed muted concern at the threats. Washington is the main sponsor of the “Road Map” agreement, through which it seeks to stifle the Palestinian resistance. The agreement promised a Palestinian state in 2005 in exchange for guarantees by the Palestinian Authority of the security of the Israeli state.

“The United States does not support either the elimination of him or the exile of Mr. Arafat,” said Secretary of State Colin Powell September 14 during a visit to Iraq. “I think you can anticipate that there would be rage throughout the Arab world, the Muslim world, and in many other parts of the world. And I don’t see how, at this delicate moment, that would serve the cause of moving forward on the road map.’’  
 
 
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