Israel on alert for anniversary

JERUSALEM – Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s new threats against Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat continued to make waves on Saturday, as Israel stood on high alert ahead of its Remembrance and Independence Days.

“We have mobilised all our forces to make sure the Israeli people feel secure” for the anniversary, police chief Shlomo Aharonishki told journalists ahead of the commemoration of Israel’s war dead from 19h30 (1630 GMT). Remembrance Day is followed immediately by the 56th anniversary of the creation of Israel according to the Jewish calendar.Police have said they are expecting Palestinian extremists to try to carry out attacks against targets in Israel during two of the most important days of Israel’s year.Thousands of police, frontier guards and volunteers are being deployed in “sensitive” areas and the public has been urged to show “extreme vigilance”, Aharonishki said.Islamic militant group Hamas has threatened to unleash a “volcano” of attacks following Israel’s assassination of two of its leaders – Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and Abdzelazziz al-Rantissi – since March.At least 21 781 Israelis have been killed in combat or attacks since the November 1947 declaration by the United Nations which led to the creation of the United Nations, including 184 in the past 12 months.The Maariv newspaper on Sunday marked the anniversary by publishing photographs of 970 Israelis – children, civilians and soldiers – who have been killed in attacks since the latest Palestinian uprising began in September 2000.Tensions have been raised by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s renewed threat against the life of Arafat.Sharon told Israeli television last week that he had informed US President George W. Bush that he was “no longer bound” by a promise he had made three years ago not to attack Arafat for his alleged backing of “terrorists”.Israeli opposition leader Shimon Peres said yesterday he deplored the threat.”I think that these declarations are a mistake, because they rally the Palestinians around Arafat and mobilise the Americans in favour of his immunity,” Peres told public radio.”We know that there are very serious discussions among the Palestinians about Arafat… But he remains their leader and embodies their cause.”The Labor Party chief however said the eventual expulsion of Arafat to the Gaza Strip was a “good idea”.Maariv reported that Sharon wanted to “prepare the ground” for Arafat’s expulsion as part of his plan to withdraw Israeli troops from Gaza and dismantle Jewish settlements there.Minister without portfolio Gideon Ezra told Israeli public radio yesterday that “these threats are not operational” and Sharon’s statement was intended as a warning to Arafat that he had a “last chance to fight against terrorism”.- Nampa-AFPRemembrance Day is followed immediately by the 56th anniversary of the creation of Israel according to the Jewish calendar.Police have said they are expecting Palestinian extremists to try to carry out attacks against targets in Israel during two of the most important days of Israel’s year.Thousands of police, frontier guards and volunteers are being deployed in “sensitive” areas and the public has been urged to show “extreme vigilance”, Aharonishki said.Islamic militant group Hamas has threatened to unleash a “volcano” of attacks following Israel’s assassination of two of its leaders – Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and Abdzelazziz al-Rantissi – since March.At least 21 781 Israelis have been killed in combat or attacks since the November 1947 declaration by the United Nations which led to the creation of the United Nations, including 184 in the past 12 months.The Maariv newspaper on Sunday marked the anniversary by publishing photographs of 970 Israelis – children, civilians and soldiers – who have been killed in attacks since the latest Palestinian uprising began in September 2000.Tensions have been raised by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s renewed threat against the life of Arafat.Sharon told Israeli television last week that he had informed US President George W. Bush that he was “no longer bound” by a promise he had made three years ago not to attack Arafat for his alleged backing of “terrorists”.Israeli opposition leader Shimon Peres said yesterday he deplored the threat.”I think that these declarations are a mistake, because they rally the Palestinians around Arafat and mobilise the Americans in favour of his immunity,” Peres told public radio.”We know that there are very serious discussions among the Palestinians about Arafat… But he remains their leader and embodies their cause.”The Labor Party chief however said the eventual expulsion of Arafat to the Gaza Strip was a “good idea”.Maariv reported that Sharon wanted to “prepare the ground” for Arafat’s expulsion as part of his plan to withdraw Israeli troops from Gaza and dismantle Jewish settlements there.Minister without portfolio Gideon Ezra told Israeli public radio yesterday that “these threats are not operational” and Sharon’s statement was intended as a warning to Arafat that he had a “last chance to fight against terrorism”.- Nampa-AFP