Israeli forces patrolled along the southern edge of Bethlehem early Friday but did not enter the town, the Israeli military said. Israel Radio reported that overnight Thursday the army arrested three wanted Palestinians in the West Bank cities of Tulkarem and Ramallah. Among the three was a young Palestinian woman.
Meanwhile, the White House said Thursday it did not know Israel's goal in storming Yasser Arafat's compound in Ramallah.
"You would have to check with the Israelis to ask them what the objective for the incursion was last night. I don't know what the objective of the incursion was last night," said Sean McCormack, spokesman for the White House National Security Council.
"From our point of view the Israeli people have suffered from terrorism and the Palestinian people's hopes for the future have been put on hold because of the terrorist attacks," McCormack said.
It seems, the almost nightly raids on Palestinian areas were not enough for many Israelis, including some Cabinet ministers who suggested to expel Arafat.
Finance Minister Silvan Shalom told Israel TV that soon a majority of Israel's Cabinet would support expelling Arafat. According to AP, Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon adviser, Raanan Gissin said that for now, Arafat's ouster was not being contemplated. "His expulsion would not solve the problem. The security services do not recommend this as the most effective solution," he said.
White House spokesman Sean McCormack agreed. "I don't think exiling Arafat solves anything," he said.
For his part, Arafat dismissed the expulsion threat, talking to reporters after taking them on a tour of his damaged headquarters. "Expel me?" he laughed. "I will die here." (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
