ANALYSIS: Has Sharon Started Endgame to Oust Arafat?

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel's assault on Yasser Arafat (news - web sites)'s presidential compound Friday fueled speculation that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (news - web sites) has started an endgame to oust his long-time foe.

Sharon said the aim of Israel's most direct attack on Arafat's headquarters in 18 months of conflict was to isolate him and remove the "foundations of terror." His defense minister said Israel had no intention of harming Arafat.

Israel says the decision was prompted by a Palestinian suicide bombing which killed 22 people on Wednesday. But it also followed growing pressure on Sharon from right-wing cabinet members to topple Arafat and a sharp fall in his support in opinion polls.

Some political analysts said the Israeli raid on Arafat's base in the West Bank city of Ramallah would stop short of bringing down Arafat. But others said Sharon could now be playing out his endgame.