Threats to kill Arafat 'Mafia-like thuggery'

THE chief Palestinian representative in Ireland has described Israeli threats to kill Palestinian President Yasser Arafat as Mafia-like thuggery.

The Delegate General of Palestine in Ireland, Ali Halimeh, was responding to a statement by Israeli deputy prime minister Ehud Olmert that liquidating Arafat could be an option open to the government.

"His expulsion is an option, his liquidation is another option," Mr Olmert had said after Sunday's Cabinet meeting in Jerusalem.

But Ali Hamileh said such language was used by "the Mafia or thugs."

"This Mafia-like statement has no place in international relations and deserves to be strongly condemned," he said.

"It is virtually unheard of for a senior Cabinet member of a democratic government to threaten to assassinate the democratically elected leader of a neighbouring people. Statesponsored terrorism, including assassinations, is illegal," he added.

The Israeli Ambassador in Ireland, Daniel Megiddo, said: "Arafat has been an obstacle to the peace process. He has undermined every attempt by Abu Mazen to get some kind of peace agreement."

Mr Megiddo said that pressure should be directed against what he described as the "obstacle to peace." "We're not breaking international law suicide bombers are," he added. "Nothing has been done (so far)."

The Israeli ambassador also rejected the Palestinian representative's call for international monitors, saying that the peace agreement must be implemented by both sides without "intervention from outside."