Prime Minister Ariel Sharon accepted an invitation last night from US President George Bush to meet him in Washington in two weeks\' time. At the same time, American officials expressed support for Israel\'s boxing-in of PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat in Ramallah. White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said that Bush \"understands the reason that Israel has taken the action that it takes,\" and State Department spokesman Richard Boucher similarly described the IDF\'s confinement of Arafat as an act of Israeli \"self-defense.\" American diplomatic sources said that the Bush Administration is considering several courses of action against the PA, including placing the Tanzim and other groups close to Arafat on the American list of terrorist organizations, and even cutting off diplomatic ties with the PA.
It was reported that the PA\'s shipload of 50 tons of arms and weapons from Iran was the last straw for Bush. The US leader was apparently incensed not only that Arafat had forged ties with terrorism-sponsor Iran, but that he repeatedly denied involvement in the affair despite firm proof to the contrary.
It was reported that the PA\'s shipload of 50 tons of arms and weapons from Iran was the last straw for Bush. The US leader was apparently incensed not only that Arafat had forged ties with terrorism-sponsor Iran, but that he repeatedly denied involvement in the affair despite firm proof to the contrary.