Jerusalem, Oct 16: Foreign Minister Sylvan Shalom revived today the Israeli threat to expel Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat following the bombing ambush of a US diplomatic convoy in the Gaza Strip that killed three Americans. "The Palestinians, and Arafat at their head, continue to encourage terrorist attacks, and I believe that, at the end of the day, the Americans realize that as long as Arafat remains in the region, it will not be possible to see emerge another, moderate Palestinian leadership prepared for dialogue with Israel," Shalom told public radio.

Following two suicide bombings in early September, which left 15 Israelis dead in Jerusalem and near Tel Aviv, the Israeli security cabinet approved in principle the forcible expulsion of Arafat, but left the timing of such a move open to question. Bureau Report