Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat fortified his West Bank headquarters with old cars and barrels of concrete today, fearing an imminent Israeli invasion, Palestinian officials said. Israeli PM Ariel Sharon last month said he is no longer bound by a promise to the US not to harm the Palestinian leader. Earlier this week, Israeli troops briefly surrounded Arafat’s compound during an overnight raid. The Army said Arafat was not the target of the raid, but Palestinian officials said the veteran leader fears for his life. ‘‘We expect an Israeli aggression,’’ said a Palestinian security official. ‘‘They come every night and we worry that they will come and attack the President so we are taking security measures.’’ Dozens of old cars were placed in piles in the main courtyard outside Arafat’s headquarters yesterday. Hundreds of barrels of concrete were spread throughout the area, in a move to prevent tanks from moving in. Cement trucks were in the compound today filling more barrels.A senior Palestinian official said Arafat knew the measures would not be enough to stop Israeli bulldozers and tanks. Israel’s recent assassinations of two Hamas leaders has added to Palestinian concerns about Arafat. —(PTI)
