The Hindu : New Delhi News : India does not see immediate threat to Arafat

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 28, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

India does not see immediate threat to Arafat

By Amit Baruah

NEW DELHI, APRIL. 27. The Government of India does not see any immediate threat to the life of the Palestinian Authority Chairman, Yasser Arafat, despite the provocative remarks made by the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, on Friday.

But the Congress and the CPI(M) reacted sharply to the threats made against Mr. Arafat by Mr. Sharon on Israeli television on Friday, condemning the Israeli threats against the Palestinian leader.

Mr. Sharon, in what amounted to a direct threat to the life of Mr. Arafat, was quoted as saying on Friday: "I promised [U.S.] President George W. Bush three years ago not to attack Mr. Arafat, but I am no longer bound by that promise, and [Arafat] no longer has immunity."

"We don't think there is a threat [to the life of Chairman Arafat] at the moment," officials in the Ministry of External Affairs said asked for a reaction to the grave situation created by the threats to Mr. Arafat and the assassination of Hamas leaders, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, and his successor, Abdul Aziz Rantisi.

"There is no need for a formal statement," the officials maintained, referring to a "clarification" that the Israeli Government had issued following Mr. Sharon's remarks. They added that the Government of India was watching the situation closely.

When contacted, Surender K. Arora, convener of the BJP's Foreign Affairs Committee, declined to comment on the threat to the life of Mr. Arafat.

The Congress was, however, critical of the statement issued by Mr. Sharon. In response to questions, J.N. Dixit, co-chairman of the AICC's Foreign Affairs Department, maintained that the U.S. Government, too, had backed the recent assassinations of Sheikh Yassin and Mr. Rantisi.

While the Congress favoured a good relationship with the U.S., this did not mean that the party would not criticise specific policies adopted by Washington, the former Foreign Secretary said at a press conference.

Asked if the Congress favoured the snapping of diplomatic relations with Israel if Mr. Arafat was killed, Mr. Dixit said a decision triggered by emotions could not be taken on the basis of a (possible) single event.

For his part, the CPI(M) general secretary, Harkishen Singh Surjeet, told this correspondent that India should stand by the people of Palestine in their hour of crisis. India, he stressed, had backed the struggle of the Palestinian people for long.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi