Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat rejected surrendering to Israeli troops outside his West Bank headquarters and said he preferred to become a "martyr."
On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon threatened Arafat with a "one-way ticket" to exile.
But when asked in an interview with the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera TV if he would surrender to the troops, the Palestinian leader shouted: "Martyr! martyr! martyr!"
In the interview, quoted by AFP, Arafat again repeated his accusation that Sharon had received a "green light" from Washington to conduct the sweeping raids on the West Bank. "Is it possible that Sharon says he obtained the green light from the United States and nobody in the United States denies it," he said, adding that "the whole world must know that Israel does not act and cannot act without America's agreement."
Asked how he was coping with little food and water inside his offices, Arafat replied that "I've lived in caves. You're talking to your brother Yasser Arafat." "But only God knows if after this interview they (the Israelis) will not cut the line," he said.
Meanwhile, Israel TV on Tuesday showed footage of military chief Lt. Gen. Shaul Mofaz urging Sharon to expel Arafat.
During a joint visit to an army base in the West Bank, Mofaz was seen telling Sharon: "We should kick him out." Sharon — apparently unaware his comments were being recorded — replied, "I know." Mofaz continued: "This is an opportunity now that won't return." (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
