RAMALLAH, Oct 5: About 30 foreigners and Israelis camped out at the headquarters of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat on Sunday, forming a “human shield” meant to prevent any attempt by Israel to exile him.

Most of the protesters were from the pro-Palestinian International Solidarity Movement, which has protested against Israeli military steps in the West Bank and Gaza Strip since a Palestinian uprising began three years ago. A few were Israelis.

They arrived at the presidential compound in the West Bank city of Ramallah with Israeli popular pressure increasing on the government to deport Arafat after a suicide bomber killed 19 people in Israel on Saturday. Arafat condemned the attack.

“If Arafat is expelled then there will be a real war,” said Suzan Moses, a 74-year-old Israeli from Tel Aviv, highlighting the US view that exiling Arafat risks sparking more violence.

She was speaking inside a wide hall in the presidential headquarters which had been converted into a bedroom and was packed with mattresses and blankets.

“We came here to protest against the continued violence against the Palestinian people...and Palestinian leadership,” said Henry Evans-Tinbrinke, a Canadian. Giancarlo Bigala, from Turin in Italy, said: “It is important to be here.”

Israel’s security cabinet decided in principle last month to “remove” Arafat after holding him responsible for militant attacks on Israelis. He denies the charge and aides maintain that he cannot crack down on them while Israel continues a military clampdown on Palestinian cities.

Arafat has been largely confined to his half-demolished compound by Israeli forces since December 2001.

The Palestine Liberation Organisation’s executive committee appealed to the world on Saturday not to permit an Israeli assault to take Arafat from his headquarters, urging it to prevent any “crimes...against President Arafat personally”.

Most Israelis blame Arafat for the failure to end three years of violence, but a few oppose any move to exile him.

Foreigners and Israelis also entered Arafat’s compound last year to try to prevent an army siege after a wave of suicide bombings in Israel.

Palestinians have also rallied around Arafat and flocked to his base after the Israeli security cabinet’s decision on September 11, which followed a suicide bombing on a Jerusalem bus that killed 23 passengers.—Reuters