Sharon plans to confine Arafat 'for next 45 years'

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat will not be allowed to leave his West Bank headquarters “for the next 45 years”, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said today.

Freedom of movement for Arafat, 74, is one of the issues raised in recent weeks by Egyptian mediators who are helping Sharon with his plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip.

Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman met with Shalom and Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz to discuss an Egyptian timetable for security arrangements in Gaza.

In the past, Egypt has proposed allowing Arafat to move from his West Bank headquarters to Gaza.. Egypt has argued that Arafat’s presence would help maintain order in Gaza and keep militants in check.

However, when asked about the Egyptian proposal in a meeting with advisers o Sharon said that ”Arafat won’t leave the mukataa for the next 45 years,” participants said.

It was a reference to Arafat’s compound in the city of Ramallah.

Israel has confined Arafat to his headquarters for more than two years. It accuses the Palestinian leader of encouraging attacks on Israelis and of sabotaging peace efforts.

“Today, everybody knows that Arafat is the problem. Therefore, we all understand that a solution to that problem needs to be found,” Shalom said.

Several Israeli Cabinet ministers have called for Arafat’s expulsions, but Sharon has hesitated because of staunch American opposition.