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Reuters: Israel Wants to Expel Arafat - But Not Yet

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel's security cabinet agreed in principle on Thursday to exile Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, but not immediately, sources close to the government said.

One source said the security cabinet decided to ask the army to prepare a plan for Arafat's exile from the region but decided against swift expulsion because of U.S. opposition.

A senior Palestinian official denounced Israel's decision, saying exiling Arafat would destabilize the Middle East.

"Harming Arafat or expelling him will destabilize the region and will only bring disaster to the Israeli people," the official said.

The United States also opposed expelling Arafat, but for different reasons, saying it would give him greater publicity.

"We don't believe that dealing with Mr. Arafat ... through expulsion is going to be helpful at all with the situation," a State Department spokesman said.

"It would just give him another stage to play on."