Jerusalem (AsiaNews): Tension between old enemies have peaked again between Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and the President of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), Yasser Arafat.

This morning on Israeli state television statements were made by Sharon, as he threatened that "Israel will take measures against  PNA President Yasser Arafat."  Ariel Sharon, as read in today's edition of the Ma'ariv daily, added that "Arafat has no insurance policy." Ariel Sharon considers Arafat to be an "obstacle" against any forward progress.      

The Israeli government has often held Arafat mainly responsible for violent action incurred against Israelis and has spoken about the need to "eliminate" him. Many analysts believe that the forewarned assassination of Sheikh Yassin gives significant weight to what the Israeli Premier has said.

Meanwhile Arafat has met with the Palestinian Prime Minister Abu Ala and has received a letter of thanks from the Hamas militant organization. The official Palestinian press describes Arafat as the most popular charismatic leader despite the fact that discontent is on the rise. On March 26 Ghassan Shaaka, the mayor of Nablus (the largest city in Gaza) stepped down from office in protest "against the idleness of Palestinian leaders".    

Palestinian police have been inactive and many Palestinian citizens fear  a precipitous withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza strip may "create chaos" and allow the "area to pass under absolute control of Islamic fundamentalists". In recent months, there have been many abductions of Palestinian Authority officials, who are intimidated and abused by Islamic militants.  

Arafat has been trying in vain for years to find a way to unite the intentions of all Palestinians into a common fight for the territory's independence. Isolated by the Arab world, (for his pro-Saddam Hussein choices made in the past), boycotted by his number one enemy (Israel) and criticized by his very own people, Arafat now finds himself "in one of the most critical periods of his entire career," said Lebanese political analyst, Tony Yazegi. (PB)  

• israel
• palestine
• arafat
• sharon
• islamic
• fundamentalism