Israel denies 'official policy' to kill Arafat

ISRAEL has not adopted a formal decision to kill Yasser Arafat, Israel's foreign minister said yesterday in an apparent attempt to soften remarks by the vice premier who said that assassination was an option.

In the West Bank, meanwhile, Palestinian Prime Minister-designate Ahmed Qurei asked Arafat's ruling Fatah movement to choose candidates for up to 16 of 24 cabinet posts a decision that appears to grant Arafat significant control over the composition of the new cabinet. One of the legislators said the Fatah list would be chosen in consultations with Arafat.

Also yesterday, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Dan Gillerman, accused the Security Council of "hypocrisy" for considering a Palestinian resolution that demands Israel refrain from taking any action against Arafat. The council was to meet later in the day. Gillerman complained that the council has not convened to discuss Palestinian suicide bombings and shootings.

Last week, Israel's security cabinet decided in principle to "remove" Arafat, but did not say what, or when, action would be taken. On Sunday, Vice Premier Ehud Olmert said killing Arafat is a possibility, along with expulsion and isolation.

However, Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom appeared to play down Olmert's statement.

"It (killing Arafat) is not the official policy of the Israeli government. It was never before and we don't speak about any killing. We didn't speak about it before and we don't speak about it today," Shalom said.

Many nations have criticised the

Israeli decision, which came in response to twin Hamas suicide bombings which killed 15 people last week.

"Assassination is an extremely dangerous thing," Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak told reporters during a visit to France.

"If the Israelis assassinate Yasser Arafat and if everyone assassinates their adversary, then the world would be in total chaos," he said, through a translator.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell said America does not support either Arafat's exile or his elimination.

"I think you can anticipate that there would be rage throughout the Arab world, the Muslim world and in many other parts of the world," Powell said during a visit Sunday to Iraq.

Thousands of Palestinians have taken to the streets in daily protests since last week. However, the initial spontaneity has worn off, and yesterday, children were sent into the streets in several West Bank towns to show support for Arafat.

At Arafat's headquarters in the town of Ramallah, about 200 scouts beating drums and waving Arafat posters gathered in the courtyard. The Palestinian leader briefly appeared at the sandbagged entrance, smiled and flashed victory signs.

Activists from Arafat's Fatah movement pitched six more tents in the compound, saying they would serve as human shields to protect Arafat from a possible Israeli raid. One tent was erected over the weekend.

It remained unclear whether Fatah would present Qurei with a pool of candidates from which he would fill 16 cabinet posts, or whether he would simply accept a list of 16 names.