Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said in a TV interview aired Friday that he is no longer bound by a promise to Washington not to harm Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

In the interview with Israel TV's Channel 2, Sharon said he told US President George W. Bush about his change of position on Arafat in a meeting in Washington last week.

"I told the president the following: during our first meeting about three years ago, I accepted your request not to harm Arafat physically," Sharon said.

"But I am released from this committment," he said. "I release myself from the commitment regarding Arafat."

Sharon declined to elaborate on how Bush had reacted to his remarks. He also refused to comment on the significance of his statement and would not say whether Israel might expel Arafat orphysically harm him.

Asked what will happen in case members of right-wing Likud party vote against his disengagement plan, the prime minister said, "I don't even want to think what will happen if this happens."

Sharon said that if this were to happen it will signify an unprecedented victory for the Palestinians and the Islamic resistance movement Hamas.

Israel's interests will be damaged and the special strategic relations between Israel and the United States will be seriously undermined, Sharon warned.

Bush cautions Sharon against harming Arafat: spokesman

US President George W. Bush cautioned Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon against harming Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat during their meeting at the White House on April 14, National Security Council spokesman Sean McCormack said in a statement on Friday.

"We have made it entirely clear to the Israeli government that we would oppose any such action. The president was pretty clear," McCormack said.

Meanwhile, National Security adviser Condoleezza Rice called the Israeli side on Friday and reiterated the US opposition to such an action, the CNN reported.

Israel has killed scores of Palestinians recently, including Hamas spiritual leader Sheik Yassin and his successor Abdul Aziz Rantisi. However, under US pressure, Israel has refrained from killing or expelling Arafat.

Palestinian officials have expressed concerns for Arafat's safety.

Source: Xinhua