Israel's new armed forces chief General Moshe Yahalon was quoted as saying he is opposed to the expulsion of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Yahalon, quoted by unnamed senior officers in an Army Radio report, is said to believe that ousting Arafat from the Palestinian territories would only revive his international standing.
"It would be a mistake to expel Arafat because it would strengthen him instead of weakening him," Yahalon was quoted as telling senior officers Wednesday. Arafat would "regain the international legitimacy which he has lost," Yahalon said.
The stance is the opposite to that of Yahalon's predecessor as chief of the general staff, General Shaul Mofaz.
Yahalon is considered as a political hawk and in favor of the army taking a tough line against the Palestinians. In May 1997, he accused Arafat of seeking to secure political concessions by means of violence, and a year later he predicted the collapse of the peace process. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
