http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/b...breaking_8.html
U.S. stopped Israeli raid to seize Arafat
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Monday, September 15, 2003
The United States has prevented Israel's military from capturing the headquarters of Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat.
U.S. government sources said the Bush administration sent a harsh message to Israel to suspend plans to capture Arafat's headquarters in Ramallah over the weekend. The sources said the had military planned to raid the so-called Muqata'a on late Friday and capture Arafat.
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The U.S. sources said the Bush administration was alarmed by the Israeli entry into Ramallah on Thursday. An Israeli military force captured a PA ministry about 300 meters from Arafat's headquarters and established a command post for the capture of the Muqata'a.
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Powell and Rice sent Israel a message, the sources said, that the United States regards any move to exile Arafat as harmful to Washington's interests in the Middle East, including the roadmap for a Palestinian state. At the same time, U.S. ambassador to Israel Daniel Kurtzer met Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz and warned of an international backlash to Arafat's exile.