Prime Minister Sharon arrived in Israel this morning, after cutting short his official visit to India by a day because of the wave of terrorism and the need to fight the Hamas terrorists. He convened the security cabinet today.
Ministerial support for the expulsion of Arafat appears to be increasing, and in fact Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has told an Italian newspaper that he would be willing to accept Arafat with "open arms." Former GSS head Carmi Gillon has also come out against a Palestinian state and in favor of expelling Arafat.
Right-wing Transportation Minister Avigdor Lieberman (National Union), on the other hand, says that expelling the PLO chairman will not be to Israel's benefit. Former IDF Intelligence Chief Gen. Amos Malka agrees. "Arafat is truly a large obstacle to peace," Gen. Malka said, "but don't expect that without Arafat, the [Arab public in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza] will run to a peace agreement or to a real war against Hamas... Whichever successor to Arafat signs an agreement that Arafat refused to sign will be perceived as a traitor. It is hard to see anyone in this generation who will agree to sign an agreement that does not include Jerusalem or the 'right of return.'"
In what has been interpreted as a message to Arafat, IDF troops took over a tall building this morning adjacent to Arafat's Mukata headquarters in Ramallah. The building, which houses the PA's Cultural Ministry, and provides the forces with a clear view of the Mukata. Defense officials would not say whether the action signaled an operation against Arafat or the Mukata.