Guardian (London) - April 2, 2002
Arafat and Sharon should resign, says EU official
* EU official calls for new leadership * Sharon says Arafat should go into exile * Gun battles rage across West Bank towns * Siege of Palestinian HQ ends
Sarah Left and agencies
As gun battles raged across the West Bank towns of Bethlehem and Ramallah, the EU foreign policy head, Javier Solana, today called on the Israeli prime minister and the Palestinian leader to step aside and make way for new leadership.
Near the reputed birthplace of Jesus, Bethlehem's Manger Square, Israeli tanks and helicopter gunships traded fire with a dozen Palestinian gunmen. Nearby, there was a heavy exchange of fire outside the Roman Catholic Santa Maria convent. The Israeli military said gunmen were shooting from the convent at Israeli soldiers.
The Israeli army today declared both Bethlehem and Ramallah closed military zones, refusing to let reporters or European diplomats enter the towns. Witnesses said four Palestinian civilians had been killed in fighting in Ramallah and Bethlehem.
Speaking to a Spanish radio station today, Mr Solana said the occupation of Palestinian towns would worsen the situation.
He added that the battle between the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, and the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, appeared to be bitterly personal.
"Sharon and Arafat ... have lived through this conflict for too long. I do not wish them any harm, but it would not appear bad to me if they allowed other people to lead this conflict," Mr Solana said.
As if to underscore Mr Solana's stance, today Mr Sharon for the first time publicly proposed sending Mr Arafat into exile in Europe. He said that Mr Arafat - currently under de facto house arrest in his Ramallah headquarters - would be released to European diplomats on condition that he does not return.
Speaking to Israel Radio, Mr Sharon said he had told the European Union envoy, Miguel Moratinos, that he could fly a helicopter into Ramallah and remove Mr Arafat.
"First, I would have to bring this to the cabinet. Second, he [Mr Arafat] can't take anyone with him, the murderers who are located around him there. And the third thing is that it would have to be a one-way ticket. He will not be able to return," Mr Sharon said.
A Palestinian cabinet minister, Saeb Erekat, responded today that the remarks signalled a more sinister intent of Mr Sharon. He told the Reuters news agency that Mr Arafat would not accept exile under any circumstances, and that Mr Sharon was laying the groundwork for an assassination attempt.
In the Ramallah suburb of Beitunia, the Israeli military continued shelling the hillside headquarters of the Palestinian security force until approximately 400 people trapped inside began to emerge as part of a negotiated surrender.
Palestinian security sources said a US and European-brokered agreement had paved the way for the surrender of the headquarters.
Israel had said those inside included 50 fugitives wanted in connection with attacks against Israel, but Jibril Rajoub, the Palestinian security chief in the West Bank, denied there were any wanted men there. Local reports said about 200 people emerged and surrendered to the army this evening.
Viewed from a short distance just after daybreak, the walled complex was devastated. The main office building was a scorched and smouldering hulk, and orange flames licked one side of it.
Mr Rajoub was not in the building at the time of last night's attack, but he said 20 people had been wounded and medical personnel were not being allowed to treat the injured.