Bush 'warned Sharon not to harm Arafat'

America said today it would oppose any Israeli strike against Yasser Arafat, after Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon said he was no longer bound by a promise to Washington not to harm the Palestinian leader.

In an interview with Israel TV’s Channel Two, Sharon said he told US President George Bush about his change of position in a meeting in Washington last week.

Sharon did not elaborate or say how Bush responded. But Sharon’s statement threatened to add to growing Arab anger at the United States.

The White House confirmed yesterday that the issue came up. ”The president reiterated his opposition to such an action,” National Security Council spokesman Sean McCormack said.

“We have made it entirely clear to the Israeli government that we would oppose any such action. The president was pretty clear.”

A White House official said Sharon did not tell Bush what, if anything, Israel planned to do.

Palestinian officials condemned what they called Sharon’s ”dangerous statements” and asked the United States to intervene.

Sharon has accused Arafat of supporting Palestinian militants, who have killed more than 900 Israelis during three and a half years of fighting.

Israel has killed scores of militants, including the leaders of the Islamic group Hamas, in targeted attacks. However, under US pressure, it has refrained from killing or expelling Arafat, confining him instead to his West Bank headquarters for two years.

“I told the president the following: ‘In our first meeting about three years ago, I accepted your request not to harm Arafat physically’,” Sharon said. “I told him I understand the problems surrounding the situation, but I am released from that pledge.”

Palestinian officials have expressed concern that Israel might attack Arafat, especially following the killings of Hamas leaders in recent weeks. On Thursday, Arafat expelled 20 militants who had sought shelter at his West Bank headquarters, fearing an Israeli attack was imminent.

Nabil Abu Rdeneh, an aide to Arafat, warned that Sharon’s ”dangerous statements … could push the whole region into tremendous danger”.

In recent months, Israel has repeatedly threatened Arafat, but has taken no action. In September, Israel’s Cabinet decided Arafat should be “removed” – an intentionally vague statement that could mean he would be expelled or killed. Last month, Israel’s army chief, Sharon and Lt Gen Moshe Yaalon suggested Arafat could be targeted.

But Sharon took the threats to a new level yesterday by revealing he had discussed Israel’s change of position regarding Arafat with Bush.