Elite unit has been ready to snatch Arafat since April 2002

[USAcommitteeX]

Elite IDF troops have been ready to 'remove' Arafat since April 2002.
(IDF)
According to reports on Israel Radio, an elite IDF unit has been ready for over two years to 'remove' Yasser Arafat, should the political echelon give it the order to do so.

The report claims that the unit had prepared, and was in place to snatch Arafat from his Muqataa headquarters during "Operation Defensive Shield" in March-April 2002.

The unit was to have broken into the Muqataa, eliminate any resistance it faced, snatch Arafat and whisk him away to a North African country onboard a military helicopter. The unit's soldiers had drilled the operation and were ready to execute it. The report adds that during "Operation Defensive Shield" soldiers had reached "very close to Arafat", but were not given the green light to proceed with the operation.

According to a senior IDF officer, the plans to remove Arafat are still in place, and that there would be "no problem to quietly enter the Muqataa and carry out the plans." The officer added that the plans made room for armed resistance by Arafat loyalists.

The Israel Radio report added that the Cabinet's decision to 'remove' Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat went against the recommendations of the defense establishment. Military Intelligence chief Maj.-Gen. Aaharon Ze'evi Farakash said Friday that although the timing for removing Arafat is favorable, he could not support such a move. IDF Chief of Staff Moshe Ya'alon also disagrees with the plan.

Yaalon and Farakash's stance adds weight to Shin Bet head Avi Dichter's objections to the Cabinet decision. Dichter said Thursday that Arafat's expulsion would only serve to strengthen the Palestinian leader and weaken Israel.

Arafat has said he will not go into exile, and that anyone wanting to kidnap him would have to kill him. "Here is my gun, they will have to kill me. I will fight to the last bullet," he told Israeli Arab politician Ahmed Tibi, who reported it on the radio.