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Israel's decision to expel Palestinian President Yasser Arafat could provoke sharp opposition from the international community and isolate the country.

Last Thursday, Israel's security cabinet agreed in principle that Arafat should be exiled, although it said no immediate plan has been made to this end. Israel's announcement was made in response to two Palestinian suicide bombings on Tuesday which killed 15 Israelis.

Blaming the two bombings on Arafat, Israel claimed the Palestinian leader was "a complete obstacle" to the Middle East peace and thus Israel "will work to remove this obstacle in the manner, at the time, in ways that will be decided separately."

This wording leaves Israel the possibilities of banishing, capturing, or killing Arafat.

Israel's indignation towards the past unceasing suicide attacks by Palestinian militants against its civilians are completely understandable.

Certainly, these brutal terrorist activities targeted at innocent civilians should be condemned and stopped.

But Israel also cannot shirk its responsibility for the spiralling tit-for-tat retaliation between the Israeli army and Palestinian militants.

To help end such a vicious circle, only correct measures should be taken. Incorrect ones will only drive the situation increasingly from control.

Israel lacks a legal foundation for removing Arafat.

As the legitimately elected Palestinian leader, it does not matter how much he is liked or disliked by other countries, Arafat's future can only be decided by the Palestinian people.

Israel can at most choose to keep Arafat away from its negotiating table with Palestine, but it cannot choose to expel him out of his own territory or kill him.

More important, Arafat, who enjoys the strong support of the majority of the Palestinian people, possesses a tight control of Palestinian political and military power, and thus has a key influence on Palestinian-Israeli peace talks.

History proves that Israel's decision not to choose Arafat as a negotiating partner was not a sensible decision.

If Israel really removes Arafat in the future as it threatened, it will pay a higher price.

Shortly after Israel's removal decision, Arafat said he could only be killed, but could not be expelled from his territory. Arafat's followers also vowed to safeguard their leader with their blood.

All this shows that Israel will inevitably pay a bloody price in carrying out its removal plan.

Besides, it is predicted that Palestine will be bogged down in a turbulent situation if Arafat were expelled or killed, which will by no means benefit Israel's peace and stability.

In the international community, it is ridiculous that a country openly declare to remove another country's leader.

A post-Cold War United States can afford to do that because it has such muscle. Also, only Uncle Sam can afford to defy international opinions by means of its enormous economic power and military force.

It seems that Israel, a close ally of the United States in the Middle East, has already been infected with such thinking.

Israel accuses Arafat of fomenting violence in a three-year-old Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation and has confined the Palestinian leader to his West Bank headquarters for most of the last 21 months.

But Israel cannot and should not turn a deaf ear to the international community in making a decision. Israel also lacks support for its removal decision.

Following Israel's announcement to remove Arafat, there has been widespread concern in the international community and many countries have condemned the Israeli decision.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said it would be unwise for Israel to expel Arafat.

Egyptian President Muhammed Hosni Mubarak said Israel would commit an enormous mistake if it drives Arafat out of Palestinian territory.

France claimed that Israel's planned removal of Arafat would be a serious error and warned it should consider the impact of the plan upon Palestine, Israel itself, the Middle East, and even the whole international community.

The European Union (EU) and Russia, two major players in the Middle East, also warned Israel of the negative effects of its removal threat. The EU also said it would maintain contacts with Arafat wherever he is based.

Even the United States, Israel's long and staunch supporter in its conflicts with Palestine, did not stand by its side this time. By saying the removal of Arafat would not contribute to Middle East peace, the United States said it was opposed to Israel's decision.

However, it seems Israel has been determined to carry forward its removal decision. Israel said on Saturday that it would not give in to the international criticism.

Israel's stance puts the already stalemated Middle East "roadmap" at the point of collapse, which will inevitably bring about more vengeance.

To avoid causing a more catastrophic situation to the region and itself, Israel should keep its senses and should not take provocative action.

(China Daily 09/15/2003 page4)