Ariel Sharon Can't Find Flak Jacket to Fit Girth

Link : http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=573&ncid=757&e=4&u=/nm/20041014/od_nm/life_israel_sharon_dc


JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (news - web sites) told parliamentarians jokingly that he is having trouble finding a bulletproof vest that fits his generous girth.



Asked by a lawmaker whether he wears a vest to protect himself from a possible assassin, the 76-year-old Sharon smiled and said: "There is no bulletproof vest in my size."


Israel's secret service has tightened security around Sharon since he earned the wrath of extremist Jews by announcing plans to withdraw settlers and soldiers from the Gaza Strip (news - web sites) next year.


Security officials have warned that militant Jews might be plotting to assassinate Sharon. In 1995, an ultranationalist Jew opposed to peacemaking with the Palestinians shot dead Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin (news - web sites) at a peace rally.