Ariel Sharon, the Prime Minister of Israel, says that expelling Yasser Arafat, the head of the Palestinian Authority, is not good for Israel, although he believes that there is no chance for peace as long as Arafat remains in power. The Israeli cabinet voted to expel Arafat last month but did not specify the timing or manner of the expulsion. However, Mr. Sharon said on Friday to the Jerusalem Post that Israeli intelligence agencies do not consider action against the Palestinian leader to be the right move. Meanwhile, the Israeli army lifted the roadblocks it had set up following a terrorist explosion inside the Gaza Strip. American investigators met with Palestinian security officials who are investigating the explosion, which resulted in the deaths of three Americans on October 5.
Ariel Sharon: Expelling Yasser Arafat is not good for Israel - 2003-10-17
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon stated that while expelling Yasser Arafat is not beneficial for Israel, he doubts peace is possible with Arafat in power. The Israeli cabinet previously voted for Arafat's expulsion but has not acted on it. This situation is significant as it reflects ongoing tensions and the complexities of Israeli-Palestinian relations.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon expressed that expelling Yasser Arafat would not be beneficial for Israel, despite the Israeli cabinet's previous vote to do so. He indicated that peace is unlikely as long as Arafat remains in power.
- The Israeli cabinet voted to expel Arafat but has not acted on it.
- Israeli intelligence agencies advised against taking action against Arafat.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been ongoing for decades, rooted in territorial disputes and national identity. Arafat's leadership has been controversial, with many Israelis viewing him as an obstacle to peace.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translation confidence: 85%