Sharon reiterates stand on Arafat to EU MPs

Frustrated after three years of Palestinian-Israeli fighting, Sharon and his Security Cabinet voted last month to ‘‘remove’’ Arafat at an unspecified time, believing this would dampen resistance among Palestinians. Later, Sharon’s deputy, Ehud Olmert, said killing Arafat, 74, was an option.

Sharon, speaking on Monday to visiting European parliamentarians, ruled out killing the Palestinian leader, but he did not elaborate on the reasons behind his policy. The US had urged Israel not to move against Arafat, fearing that his death or exile would have a destabilising effect on the West Asia. ‘‘I don’t see any plans to kill him, although the man is responsible for deaths of thousands of civilians because his strategy is a strategy of terror,’’ Sharon said.

Israel has confined Arafat to his Ramallah compound for much of the past two years. Israel and the US accuse him of fomenting terror attacks against Israeli civilians, something Arafat denies.

Sharon alleged that Arafat remains involved in attacks against Israelis. ‘‘You don’t have to worry. He’s alive, and not only is he alive but very active in taking all the … steps … that bring to murder of children, civilians, the old,’’ Sharon told the 150 parliamentarians visiting Jerusalem. He also spoke about his government’s plans for the Jewish settlements. He said he was committed to removing unauthorised outposts in the West Bank.

‘‘We do not build now, we do not aid a new settlement there or Jewish communities there. If sometimes it happens, the army removes them,’’ he told lawmakers. ‘‘What is authorised is authorised. What is unauthorised is unauthorised.’’ —NYT