Arafat Fortifies Compound Fearing Attack

[maddezmom]

By MOHAMMED DARAGHMEH, Associated Press Writer

RAMALLAH, West Bank - Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat (news - web sites) fortified his headquarters with dozens of rusty, wrecked cars and blue barrels of concrete Thursday, fearing an imminent Israeli attack.

Arafat told visitors he would not go down without a fight, but his aides acknowledged that the obstacles placed around the compound, meant to slow down tanks, would not hold back Israel's powerful military for long.

"I am going to enter this battle with my gun by my side," a visitor quoted Arafat as saying Thursday. "I will resist until I become a martyr."

Israeli officials said there was no immediate plan to raid Arafat's compound."We are not going to carry out any operation, but they are hysterical," Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (news - web sites)'s spokesman, Raanan Gissin, said of Arafat and his aides.

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more: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&ncid=721&e=7&u=/ap/20040506/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_palestinians

[tinnypriv]

1. Nah

They're waiting until the next Sep 11 anniversary.

[Aussie_Hillbilly]

3. Or the October Surprise?

I think you hit the nail on the head.

If Osama bin Laden can't be thawed out in time, Yasser Arafat might have to do.

:shrug:

A few million votes for Bush, a few billion dollars for Israel.

You can't get fairer than that.

[tinnypriv]

4. Well

I'm going on past record.

Just after Sep 11 01: Israel declares Arafat "irrelevant", invades Palestinian areas, kills large numbers of people.

Sep 11 02: Israel trashes Arafat's compound.
Sep 11 03: Israel authorises the "removal" of Arafat (liquidation)
Sep 11 04: ??

I don't think the dates are coincidental.

[Aussie_Hillbilly]

5. (shudder)

It is disgusting that Likud would try to cash in on 9-11 like this.

Then again, why am I surprised?

I hadn't realised they were so shameless in trying to link Al Qaeda to Palestine in American minds.

[Mattforclark]

2. That is a shame that he is fearing things

Hopefully he will be happier soon.