A defiant Yasser Arafat emerged from his sandbagged office tonight and flashed a victory sign to thousands of supporters who chanted their support after Israel said it had decided to "remove" the Palestinian leader.
Arafat appeared shortly after the Israeli announcement to address supporters who rushed to his headquarters to protect him from what they feared would be an immediate Israeli move to seize him.
"The leader is Abu Ammar," the crowd chanted, referring to Arafat by his nom de guerre.
Using a bullhorn, Arafat recited a passage from the Quran, the Muslim holy book, about being steadfast in the face of an oppressor.
He also said: "We are on sacred land, and we will protect our holy Christian and Muslim places. We send a message to the detainees, and to the prisoners, together all the way to Jerusalem."
He then led the crowd in a chant, waving his finger in rhythm: "To Jerusalem, to Jerusalem, to Jerusalem."
Men stood on blocks of rubble to get a view in the partially destroyed headquarters in Ramallah, where Arafat has been forced to stay for nearly two years by Israeli troops and treats.
Seeing the 74-year-old leader, the crowd also chanted: "Don't you worry, old man. Your prime is in your old age."
Some chanted, "Are you afraid of tanks?" And others answered: "No."
After his brief comments, Arafat retreated back inside his office, blowing kisses to the crowd with both hands.