Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon says he will allow besieged Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to leave his Ramallah headquarters with what he called "a one-way ticket." 

The Israeli prime minister publicly raised the possibility of exiling Mr. Arafat during a visit to a West Bank army base Tuesday. 

Mr. Sharon said if Mr. Arafat leaves, he won't be able to return. He also said Mr. Arafat could not take anyone with him. Mr. Sharon said there are "wanted people and murderers" holed up with the Palestinian leader. 

A senior Palestinian official says Mr. Arafat will not accept exile from his homeland under any circumstances. Saeb Erekat told reporters Mr. Arafat believes not a single Palestinian will accept going into exile under any circumstances. 

The Palestinian leader has said he would die a martyr rather than give in to Israel. 

The Israeli cabinet last week decided to confine and isolate Mr. Arafat, but left open the possibility of expelling him at a later stage. 

Israel's Foreign Minister Shimon Peres says such a decision could not be taken without full approval of the cabinet, adding that he had voted against it in a earlier cabinet debate. 

Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.

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