OCCUPIED TERRITORIES

Al-Jazeera: Arafat may not survive next 24 hours
The future of Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat is hanging by a thread, according to senior diplomats.

Israeli health minister Danny Narveh told a number of UN and other officials during an informal chat on Wednesday that Arafat must be physically removed from his Ramallah base.

In a stark warning amid increasing tension, one of the western diplomats at the Narveh briefing described the next 24 hours as critical ... and he made it clear his express concern focussed on Arafat's personal safety.

On condition of anonymity, the official told Aljazeera.net on Wednesday that Yasir Arafat may not remain in the Palestinian territories once Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon returns from India.

Sharon is due back in Israel by 01:00