Arafat can leave - but not return
Europeans can meet with PA chief only if he departs with them

In contrast with foreign diplomats, Israel has proposed that Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat be allowed to leave his beleaguered offices in Ramallah on condition of agreement in advance that he will not return to the territories and that he will not be permitted to take with him any of the wanted men whom he is hiding.

The proposal was raised in contacts over the past few days between the Prime Minister's Office and European and other representatives who proposed sending visitors to Arafat. They were told they could visit Arafat only if they agreed to take him out of Ramallah, and that he would be banned from returning.

Another proposal, examined by Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, was that Arafat would leave Ramallah of his own accord if there was a foreign country that was willing to give him refuge. Peres discussed the proposal with Egypt and other countries but the efforts did not bear fruit.

As of Friday, Israel has prevented foreign representatives from entering Arafat's bureau and has stopped other Palestinian figures from holding meetings in Ramallah.

Peres yesterday met UN envoy Terje Larsen, European Union envoy Miguel Moratinos and Russian envoy Andrei Vdovin, all of whom requested permission to visit Arafat on humanitarian grounds and out of concern for his well-being. The three envoys would also like to begin mediation efforts. Their requests were turned down on the grounds that the government has decided Arafat must be "isolated."