RAMALLAH, Sept 12: Israel faced an international outcry on Friday over its decision to expel Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, a threat that drew tens of thousands of his supporters to rally to his defence.

“The decision turned Arafat into a hero...and that’s a shame,” commentator Roni Shaked wrote in Israel’s largest newspaper, Yedioth Ahronoth.

Calling Yasser Arafat an obstacle to peace but under US pressure not to exile him, Israel’s security cabinet decided on Thursday “to remove” him “in a manner that will be determined separately”.

The wording left open options that could include killing Mr Arafat — a proposal that Israeli newspapers said Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz raised, but Prime Minister Ariel Sharon shot down — or expelling him from the Palestinian territories.

Sources close to the Israeli government said it had asked the army to refresh plans to exile Mr Arafat, but not immediately.

A White House official deplored the move, saying exiling Mr Arafat would only “give him an international stage on which he would continue to be an obstacle to peace”.

After the Israeli decision, thousands of Palestinians flocked to Yasser Arafat’s headquarters on Thursday night in Ramallah, where Israeli blockade has kept him confined for the past 21 months, and pledged to defend him with their lives.

Thousands rallied after Friday prayers in Palestinian areas of Qalqilya, Bethlehem, Nablus and the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian refugees in Lebanon and Jordan filled the streets of camps by the thousands to show support for their besieged leader.

“What the criminal decision made by the Israeli cabinet has done is really beyond all expectations. There is spontaneous support (for Arafat) by the Palestinian people,” Palestinian Foreign Affairs Minister Nabil Shaath said.

A beaming Arafat — again the centre of attention after US attempts to sideline him in Middle East peacemaking — blew kisses and flashed the V-for-victory sign. “Abu Ammar is staying here,” he said, using his nom de guerre.

Israeli police stormed the square outside the Al Aqsa mosque on Friday after angry Palestinians stoned worshippers at Judaism’s Western Wall below.

Two “inciters” were arrested and four Israeli police lightly injured, police spokesman Gil Kleiman said.

CABINET: After Israel’s decision, Palestinian prime minister-designate Ahmed Qorie suspended efforts to form a cabinet. He was to take over from Mahmoud Abbas, a moderate who quit a week ago accusing Mr Arafat and Israel of undermining him.