ISRAEL: The Palestinian "old guard" has taken control of the Palestinian Authority in the absence of Yasser Arafat, but there is no guarantee they will succeed in maintaining control should the Palestinian leader die, Israel's Defence Minister told the cabinet yesterday.
Mr Shaul Mofaz told ministers that Israel was "preparing for a possible escalation in violence following the death of Palestinian Authority Chairman Arafat", and would send reinforcements into the Occupied Territories if necessary.
But Mr Mofaz said it appeared the old guard - a reference to Prime Minister Mr Ahmad Korei and his predecessor Mr Mahmoud Abbas - "has taken matters to hand and it appears they are controlling the situation and have a desire to reach internal agreement on the day after Arafat dies".
In his security review, the Defence Minister is also said to have told the cabinet that in Mr Arafat's absence the Palestinian leadership taking shape in Ramallah was working to end violence. "It appears they are calling for a united stance and an end to Hamas terror. However, there is no guarantee they will be successful."
The remarks by Mr Mofaz came a day after Mr Korei met with militant groups in the Gaza Strip, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, in an effort to persuade them to refrain from carrying out attacks inside Israel in Mr Arafat's absence. The Defence Minister also said Israel was completing arrangements for the possibility of Mr Arafat being buried in Gaza. While Mr Arafat has never publicly said where he would like to be buried, some Palestinian officials in recent days have said he wishes to be laid to rest near the Al Aqsa mosque, which is part of a compound hotly disputed by Muslims and Jews in the Old City of Jerusalem.
For Muslims it is Haram al-Sharif, their third-holiest site, while for Jews it is the Temple Mount - their holiest site - where the two biblical temples stood before they were destroyed.
Israeli officials have also been preparing for a possible influx of foreign dignitaries in the event of Mr Arafat's death. Those Arab leaders who wish to attend from countries that have diplomatic relations with Israel - like Egypt and Jordan - would be able to be transported from Israel to Gaza. Those coming from countries that don't have relations with Israel would be allowed to fly through Israeli airspace to Gaza from Jordan.
Palestinian officials in the West Bank wishing to attend the funeral could be bused to Gaza through Israel.
Palestinian Cabinet Minister Mr Saeb Erekat said Israel's preparations for a possible funeral showed a lack of sensitivity. "I think it's inappropriate to speak about burying people when they're still alive," he said.
In the West Bank city of Jenin, Israeli undercover troops yesterday shot dead four Palestinian militants. Palestinian sources said troops disguised as Arabs opened fire on a vehicle, killing the four, all members of the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade, a militant group associated with Yasser Arafat's Fateh party.