Jerusalem: Israeli leaders shrugged off international condemnation of their decision to "remove" Yasser Arafat whenever they choose, saying the world has no right to judge a nation facing constant suicide bombings and that the Palestinian leader should have been ousted long ago.

Statements of concern rolled in from country after country a day after Israel's vaguely worded decision that it would act to remove Arafat. The threat set off pro-Arafat demonstrations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and drew condemnation from the European Union, the United Nations and Arab countries.

"In the early hours of this morning the phones rang from all over the world," Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said. "They're asking us to do nothing against Yasser Arafat. Has the world turned on its head?"

US Secretary of State Colin Powell telephoned both Shalom and the Palestinian Foreign Minister on September 12 to emphasise the United States' opposition to exiling Arafat. White House spokesman Scott McClellan said, "It would not help matters; it would only serve to give him a broader stage."

Israel's government says that as long as the 74-year-old Palestinian leader continues to wield authority, peacemaking efforts will fail. But Israel pulled back from any immediate operation, and abandoned lookout positions on top floors of two buildings overlooking Arafat's compound.

Arafat was defiant, declaring before thousands of supporters that no one will "kick me out". On September 12, he emerged from his office at his West Bank compound and told hundreds of supporters, "To Jerusalem we are going as martyrs in the millions."

Agencies