Israeli minister wants Arafat exiled

Mofaz (right) is among the hawkish members of the Israeli cabinet

Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz has called for Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to be expelled, saying he is obstructing peace moves.

Mr Mofaz told Israeli army radio that Mr Arafat was a "major obstacle for (Palestinian Prime Minister) Mahmoud Abbas and for the whole political process".

He was speaking amid a reported power struggle between Mr Arafat and his moderate prime minister for control of the Palestinian security forces.

Under the US-backed peace plan, known as the roadmap, the Palestinian Authority is expected to rein in Palestinian militants, who ended a seven-week ceasefire last month.

On Monday Mr Mofaz said the Israeli armed forces had declared an "all-out war" against militant groups.

Arafat never wanted to reach an agreement with us Shaul Mofaz Defence Minister

He made the statement after a Hamas militant was killed in an Israeli helicopter strike in Gaza City.

On Tuesday, Mr Mofaz said the government had to "find the right moment" before throwing out Mr Arafat without damaging Mr Abbas, who is also known as Abu Mazen.

He said this could be done "in a relatively short space of time, very possibly even this year".

Mr Mofaz added: "I think Israel made a historic mistake by not expelling him about two years ago".

Petition

Mr Arafat has been largely confined by Israeli forces to his battered headquarters in the West Bank town of Ramallah for the past year and a half.

Israel and the United States have accused him of sabotaging efforts by Abu Mazen to take over the security forces at a time when militant groups have resumed attacks against Israelis.

Arafat is said to be locked in a power struggle with his prime minister

"Arafat never wanted to reach an agreement with us and all he wants is to continue the conflict and bleed the citizens of Israel," Mr Mofaz said.

The defence minister has in the past said Mr Arafat should have been expelled at the start of the latest Palestinian uprising three years ago. But this view has not officially been endorsed by the Israeli cabinet.

Meanwhile 200 prominent Palestinians have published a petition urging Mr Arafat and Abu Mazen to settle their differences.

The petition, signed by politicians, academics and other public figures, says the two men should head off Israeli attempts "to sabotage our national unity".

The petition was published by newspapers on Tuesday - a day after Palestinian parliamentary Speaker Ahmed Qurei said the power struggle was damaging the peace process and helping Israel.