Israeli minister says Arafat’s expulsion possible this year

? Israel could seek to expel Yasser Arafat by the end of the year, the defense minister said Tuesday, calling the Palestinian leader the biggest obstacle to peace.

Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, who has long supported expelling Arafat, issued the warning as Arafat and his prime minister, former deputy Mahmoud Abbas, remained locked in a power struggle.

Abbas, backed by the United States and Israel, is increasingly unpopular at home and could be ousted, possibly in a Palestinian parliament vote next week. Arafat and Abbas have clashed on control of security forces and key appointments, threatening a rift that could hinder peace efforts.

Palestinian Cabinet Minister Ghassan Khatib said Mofaz’s threat of expelling Arafat only raised tensions, “but is consistent with the spirit of escalation of the Israeli leadership.”

Israeli soldiers, meanwhile, killed an Islamic Jihad militant who drew a pistol on troops at a West Bank roadblock Tuesday, military sources said. They said a second militant riding in the car was arrested and an assault rifle seized.

An Islamic Jihad leader who spoke on condition of anonymity identified the dead man as Abdel Kader Dali, a wanted militant. The leader called the shooting an “assassination” and vowed revenge.

In an interview with Israel’s Army Radio, meanwhile, Mofaz said Arafat was blocking progress on the U.S.-backed “road map” to peace, which envisions a Palestinian state within three years.

“Arafat, of course, has become the most significant obstacle both to the leadership of (Abbas) and to the peace process,” Mofaz said. “I think that he has to disappear from the stage of history, and not be included in the ranks of the Palestinian leadership.”

The defense minister said Israel made a “historic mistake” when it decided not to exile him two years ago. “With regard to the future, I think we will be compelled to deal with this issue within a relatively short period of time, very possibly even this year,” he said.

Mofaz said if Israel decided to expel Arafat, the timing would have to be chosen carefully so as not to undermine Abbas, who Israel believes is serious about reaching a peace deal.

A Palestinian man looks on as masked militants from the radical Islamic group Hamas walk past during the funeral procession for fellow Hamas member Khader Houssre, in Gaza City, Gaza Strip. Houssre was killed by Israeli forces Monday in a targeted helicopter missile strike. Amid escalating violence between Israelis and Palestinians, Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said Yasser Arafat might be expelled within the year to help the Mideast peace plan's progress.