A move by Israel to expel Palestinian president, Yasser Arafat would be a "serious political mistake with the most negative consequences," Moscow said on Friday.
"Such a step would remove the possibility of peacefully resolving the Israeli-Palestinian crisis and would lead to an uncontrollable chain of events in the worst case scenario," said a statement from Russia's foreign ministry.
"Only through cooperation can we end the terror and the other manifestations of violence and return to the roadmap," the statement conveyed.
Earlier, a spokesman for the State Department said the U.S. government agrees that Arafat is "part of the problem" but opposes sending him into exile. "It would just give him another stage to play on," said the spokesman, Richard Boucher.
Australian Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, said the expulsion of Arafat would make him a "martyr". Downer added he was opposed to the removal of the Palestinian leader and he would convey his view to Israel. "We always keep in touch with the Israelis and they'll be aware of our views," he said.
French President Jacques Chirac said on Thursday it would be a "grave mistake" to expel Arafat and "to eliminate him politically."
Arab leaders warned that Israeli action against Arafat could ignite violence and destabilize the Middle East, bringing it to the "brink of the abyss."
Egyptian President Husni Mubarak called the decision to remove Arafat "a huge error," and that "no good would come of it."
Palestinian Prime Minister-designate Ahmed Qurei urged "all wise people in the world to stop this crazy decision." He abandoned plans to form a new government, saying that there is no legitimacy without Arafat.
"This is an adventurous and grave decision that finishes off any attempt by me to form a new Cabinet," he told reporters. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
