Arafat Expels 20 Militants From Compound

[Freddie Stubbs]

1 hour, 17 minutes ago Add Top Stories - AP to My Yahoo!


By RAVI NESSMAN, Associated Press Writer

JERUSALEM - Yasser Arafat (news - web sites) expelled 20 wanted militants from his compound Thursday in an apparent bid to forestall an Israeli raid, a further sign the Palestinian leader fears he might become a target himself.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (news - web sites), meanwhile, backed away from a promise to honor an upcoming vote by his Likud party on a proposal to withdraw from the Gaza Strip (news - web sites), senior government officials said. A new poll showed shrinking support for the plan.

Violence persisted Thursday, with Israeli soldiers killing a 9-year-old Palestinian girl and a 16-year-old boy in clashes in the Gaza town of Beit Lahiya. A 4-year-old Palestinian girl died of tear gas inhalation, doctors said. Three Palestinian gunmen in the West Bank town of Tulkarem were also killed.

Israel has stepped up attacks on Gaza militants in advance of the proposed withdrawal, killing Hamas founder Sheik Ahmed Yassin last month and new leader Abdel Aziz Rantisi on Saturday.

more: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=4&u=/ap/20040422/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_palestinians_28

It looks like Arafat is finally getting the message.

[Oak]

1. Arafat

Arafat continues to be the mass murderer he is. This is proof he harbors terrorists.

[Freddie Stubbs]

3. Also proof that targeting Hamas leaders is having a positive effect

[Darranar]

5. How so?

Arafat, as powerless as he is, can't do anything to stop terrorism, and Hamas clearly isn't intimidated.

[Frodo]

8. If he was able to protect them by keeping them in his compound

despite it being a know site. He's got a fair bit of power.

[Darranar]

9. He has some power...

just not enough to do anything that matters.

Intimidating him gets Israel nowhere, and intimidating Hamas simply doesn't work.

[Frodo]

2. Probably a wise idea (both ways).

It may save him from being a target... but you also have a tough time selling yourself as NOT being a terrorist (a frequent claim against Arafat) if you aren't harcoring a couple dozen of them in your basement.

[buddy22600]

4. yeppers

[calkooni]

6. a very violent day indeed

i couldn't help noticing the following in the above article:

Violence persisted Thursday, with Israeli soldiers killing a 9-year-old Palestinian girl and a 16-year-old boy in clashes in the Gaza town of Beit Lahiya. A 4-year-old Palestinian girl died of tear gas inhalation, doctors said.


Obviously, 3 very violent Palestinians killed by the IDF on thursday. Part of Israels fight against terrorism

A 4, 9 & 16 year old. The worse the 16 year old probably did was throw a stone...... what did the 4 and 6 year old kids do to deserve death.....? Should it matter?

[Muddleoftheroad]

7. They'll be back

He just sent them out for pizza so that he can look good.