Israeli justice minister’s threats to Arafat spark anger

JERUSALEM -- Israeli Justice Minister Tzahi Hanegbi was blasted Sunday for threatening Palestinian Authority leader Yasser Arafat.

Likud sources said Hanegbi's belligerence is harming Israel's efforts to solve the peace crisis, while Labor leaders urged his resignation.

Last Saturday night, Hanegbi told Likud activists that "if Arafat exerts force against us, it will be the end of the peace process. Our reaction will reach Arafat himself."

Arafat "will not be able to continue living peacefully in a villa on the coast with [his wife] Suha."

Hanegbi said Arafat would be forced out of Gaza and returned to his wandering "between Tunis and Baghdad" with a suitcase, if violence erupts.

"No one who wants to finish us is immune, neither `The Engineer' [Hamas bombmaker Yehiya Ayash, who was assassinated last year] nor anyone in any villa," he said.

Foreign Minister David Levy accused Hanegbi of fueling Israeli-Palestinian tension, while Internal Security Minister Avigdor Kahalani said, "Hanegbi should have counted to 10 before speaking."