Sharon threatens to expel Arafat from the Palestinian territories

The Israeli radio said that the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon informed the American administration on the possibility of expelling the chairman of the Palestinian Authority from the Palestinians areas, and that Washington asked Sharon not to take such a step, because it will result in the escalation of violence and fail the mission of the US envoy Anthony Zinni.

Israeli military sources said that the Israeli army is preparing a large scale military operation against the Palestinians which it undertook today and expected Zinni's mission to fail.

A spokesman for Sharon said that the chance given by Israel to Zinni's mission has expired and that the Israeli government will decide whether it is time for a move.

Meantime, the Israeli minister of the interior Ozi Landoa called for crushing the Palestinian Authority. He described the Oslo agreement is a mistake that should be gotten rid off for ever because it tightens the hands of Israel, as he claimed.