Fresh threats by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on the life of Palestinian president Yasser Arafat will not be implemented in the immediate future, two close ministers to Sharon assessed Sunday.
The latest Sharon's comments drew international condemnation over the weekend.
For their part, Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Gideon Ezra, a minister in the Prime Minister's Office, said Sunday that Israel does not plan to kill Arafat right away.
"I don't see the possibility that Arafat will be exiled tomorrow morning or assassinated tomorrow morning," Ezra told Israel Radio. "I see Sharon's comments as a threat ... We cannot live with the constant fear of terror attacks," Ezra, who was previously a senior member of the Shabak said. "If he (Sharon) was really planning to do something now he wouldn't be talking about it in public," he added.
"The prime minister doesn't intend to carry out anything next week or today or tomorrow," Olmert told Army Radio. "He set out a position in principle regarding Arafat and the immunity he [Arafat] thought he enjoyed." (Albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
