TEL AVIV, Jan 31: A group of senior Israeli generals have drafted a security plan envisaging a reoccupation of the Palestinian territories in a move to destroy the Palestinian Authority, the daily Haaretz reported on Thursday.

The “security-political plan”, proposed by a group of senior defence officials and former reserve generals, proposes a massive invasion of Palestinian towns in a bid to cleanse them of “terrorists and weapons”.

Recommendations laid down in the plan also envisage the destruction of the Palestinian Authority, and possibly the assassination of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, the paper said.

The proponents of the plan, which predicts that uncompromising military action could change the strategic situation within “a week”, said they had support for their proposals at the highest echelons of the army, the daily said.

Brigadier General Effi Eitam, who heads the group, said Israel faced an “elusive threat” which, unlike a direct invasion by a foreign state, was able to destroy by stealth.

“Israel is now like a person for whom cancer, not a bullet, is threatening his life,” he said.

“This is a first attempt by the right to present a political-security plan that doesn’t make do only with blocking Palestinian intentions but proposes solutions to the situation.”

Included in the plan are measures to block Arab Israeli participation in the Knesset, the Israeli parliament.

According to the article, Eitam said the group itself has plans to enter the political arena as a new, right-wing political party.

The plan, which has not received any expressions of support from Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, will be presented to the public in the coming weeks, the paper said.

SUSPENDED: The Israeli army said on Thursday it had temporarily suspended two army reserve officers who refused to serve in occupied areas in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.