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 commitment," 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 or physically 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.

(Xinhua News Agency April 24, 2004)