'I hated him': Israeli justice minister

Blaming Yasser Arafat for global terrorism and the failure to achieve Middle East peace, an Israeli Cabinet minister expressed hope today that a new Palestinian leadership would put down militant groups and negotiate with Israel.

The comments by Justice Minister Yosef Lapid marked the first reaction by a top Israeli official to Arafat’s death at a French hospital before dawn Thursday. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s aides declined comment.