CAIRO, Oct 6 (Reuters) - Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said on Monday if
Israel expelled Palestinian President Yasser Arafat it would be a "terrorist
act" condemned by the international community.
Israeli calls to expel Arafat intensified after a Palestinian suicide
bomb killed 19 people in Haifa two days ago, but Mubarak warned Israel of
"grave consequences" if they went ahead and removed the Palestinian leader.
"If Israel carries out its threat (to expel Arafat), it will not
achieve its goal...this illegal act considered to be terrorist and condemned
by the entire international community will not lead to anything but the
promotion of a climate of violence and despair", Mubarak said.
Mubarak's comments came in the text of an interview published by the
official Middle East News Agency (MENA) to mark the 30th anniversary of the
1973 October War, when Egypt and Syria launched a surprise assault to regain
territories lost to Israel in the 1967 Middle East War.
Israel's security cabinet decided in principle last month to "remove"
Arafat after declaring him responsible for Islamic militant attacks on
Israelis.
Mubarak has previously criticised Israeli calls to exile Arafat many
times, saying it would not serve the cause of peace.
