RAMALLAH, West Bank, Sept. 13 (UPI) -- Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat said Yasser Arafat won't survive any Israeli attempt to remove him from his compound in Ramallah, CNN reported Saturday.
"I am sure, if they attempt this, the men will defend him, there will be a shootout and in the end they will end up killing him," Erakat said after returning from a meeting at Arafat's compound.
Erakat told CNN the Palestinian leader told him "he will not accept to be deported and he will not accept to be arrested."
Israel announced Thursday its intention to "remove" Arafat, calling him an "obstacle" to peace.
Ra'anan Gissin, spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, denied that the Security Cabinet decision meant Israel would forcibly remove Arafat from Ramallah.
"The time, method -- the ways by which this will take place -- will be decided separately, and the security services will continue to monitor the situation and make the recommendation about the proper action as they have done in the past," Gissin said.
