Israel 'must take extreme measures' after Arafat death

When Yasser Arafat dies, Israel must make sure the Palestinian leader’s body is not buried in Jerusalem and take harsh measures to prevent militant groups from taking control in the Palestinian territories, according to a new contingency plan.

The document lays out Israel’s best predictions about the consequences that may follow the death of Arafat, 75.

Arafat, who has suffered a series of health problems in recent years, wields enormous power and has said little about who might succeed him – or what to do with his body.

The contingency plan forecasts chaos in the Palestinian territories. It says Arafat’s Palestinian Authority will collapse and Islamic groups, led by Hamas, could rise up out of the refugee camps where they have strong support and try to take control of the Palestinian government.

Israel must take extreme measures to prevent this scenario, including a broad military operation in the Gaza Strip, according to the document.

The document, prepared by the Foreign Ministry, is part of regular planning for Arafat’s death. Such plans are continually updated by various governmental bodies.

There have been some signs that Arafat’s health is deteriorating, including shaking hands and lips, which led to speculation he was suffering from Parkinson’s disease.

Palestinian officials said Arafat remains firmly in control. “He is very healthy,” Emad Shakour, an adviser to Arafat, told Israel’s Army Radio.

The Israeli document makes a number of recommendations to prevent chaos in the territories.

It says Israel should begin cultivating a younger generation of Palestinian leaders and “pressure” militant groups to minimise their ability to take control.

But it expects the biggest crisis to be over the burial of Arafat.

Officials close to Arafat say he has never indicated where he wants to be buried, but the assumption is he would want to be buried on the Al Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Old City, a supreme honour for Muslims.

Israel will strongly oppose burying Arafat in the city.

The five-page Israeli document looks at three possible causes of death: an Israeli military operation, a prolonged illness or a short, natural death.

The document predicts a “heroic and sacrificial story” about his demise and says Israel will be blamed. Palestinians around the world will express collective grief, the document says.

The crisis could include holding Arafat’s body in his West Bank headquarters for several days, leading to international pressure on Israel to bury him in Jerusalem.

Another scenario foresees thousands of Palestinians trying to bring the body from the West Bank town of Ramallah to Jerusalem.

The document recommends that Israel allow Arafat to be treated abroad if his health deteriorates, in the hopes he will die outside the country, removing all blame from Israel and making it easier to stop his burial in Jerusalem.

As a compromise, Israel would suggest Arafat be buried in Abu Dis, a Palestinian suburb of Jerusalem that overlooks the Old City.

On Wednesday, Sharon invited the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism into the government in hopes of shoring up his coalition.

Sharon has also spoken to opposition leader Shimon Peres – who received strong support from his Labour Party yesterday to move ahead with coalition negotiations. Labour holds 21 seats.

Sharon’s office said negotiations with both potential partners would begin in earnest on Sunday.