Israel to consider Arafat expulsion

JERUSALEM, Sept. 7 (UPI) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon plans to hold a cabinet meeting soon to discuss expelling Yasser Arafat, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said Sunday.

Shalom told the Jerusalem Post he believes as long as Arafat heads the Palestinian Authority, there never will be peace in the region.

Shalom long has advocated expelling Arafat.

But Knesset speaker Reuven Rivlin told Israel Radio expelling Arafat is not the answer. He said allowing him to travel to various European capitals rather than confining him to his compound in Ramallah would not have made Mahmoud Abbas' job any easier.

Abbas resigned as Palestinian prime minister Saturday.