Arafat fortifies West Bank barricades

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat fortified his West Bank headquarters with piles of old cars and barrels of concrete today, fearing an Israeli invasion was imminent, Palestinian officials said.

Dozens of old cars were scattered throughout the main courtyard outside Arafat’s headquarters.

Hundreds of blue barrels filled with concrete were spread throughout the area, in a move to prevent tanks from moving in.

Cement trucks were in the compound today filling more barrels.

Palestinian officials said Arafat knew the measures could not stop Israeli bulldozers and tanks, but that he refused to be taken alive.

“Arafat will resist any attempt to arrest or get into his office,” Palestinian Cabinet minister Saeb Erekat said, adding that he fears “the end of the game” will be the killing of Arafat.

Israeli security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there were no immediate plans to attack the Palestinian leader.

But they said Israel had a standing plan on how to snatch Arafat from his headquarters and expel him.

Israel has confined Arafat to his Ramallah compound for more than two years. Last September, Israel’s Cabinet decided Arafat should be “removed” after a pair of suicide bombings killed 15 Israelis.

It has repeatedly threatened him since then, but never taken any action.

Israel’s recent assassinations of two leaders of the militant group Hamas have added to Palestinian concerns about Arafat.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s top deputy said the Israeli leader remains committed to carrying out a plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip, despite rejection of the plan by the ruling Likud Party this week.

Meanwhile, the Israeli army began construction of a fence in the Gaza Strip meant to protect Jewish settlers following a deadly attack on an Israeli family this week.

In the West Bank, a Palestinian man was killed in fresh violence.