Al-Aqsa stormed; US rebukes Sharon remarks on killing Arafat

By: Mohamed Ali/ Ahmed Hammadi

WASHINGTON/HELD JERUSALEM: Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon’s comments that Palestinian President Yasser Arafat could become target for assassination earned a strong rebuff from Washington.

Sharon uttered his most explicit threats yet against his arch foes Arafat and Lebanese Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in interviews published Friday, April 2, 2004, 10 days after Israel assassinated Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin in a helicopter strike in Gaza.

The United States repeated on Friday that it opposes the assassination of Arafat.

“Our position on such questions -- the exile or assassination of Yasser Arafat -- is very well known. We are opposed and we have made that very clear to the government of Israel,” US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage told reporters.

Separately, Israeli police stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque compound after prayers on Friday, firing tear gas, plastic bullets and stun grenades at Palestinians. Several Palestinians were injured.

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