Potential PLO collapse and aftermath

[Mr. Pumps]

:) If Bush's plan is implemented and the Yasser Arafat is overthrown or vote out, with the Palestinians facing economic ruin there is a possibility the PLO could lose control of the territory under their control and a Civil War and disasterous potential chaos might start within the Territories.

[NewsGuy]

Originally posted by Mr. Pumps
... the PLO could lose control of the territory under their control and a Civil War and disasterous potential chaos might start within the Territories.

We need to respect the national aspirations of the Palestinians. If they want to have a civil war among themselves, then that is their own affair.

At the end, a new Palestinian leadership will emerge and Israel will know how to deal with it based on who it is.

It's just important to make sure that the Palestinian violence and national aspirations are confined to their own territories.

[Mr. Pumps]

But what is a major problem could de in that disorder on of the extremist parties could take power in a coup and that would be a MAJOR problem.

If order in the Palestinain areas fall apart Israel will have to intervene to prevent the emergence of Hamas of Islamic Jihad into a seat of power.

Yasser Arafat has to be relace because he is ineffective to stop any group from carrying out attacks, but it is better to have a new leadership selected from within the PLO than have a election that could end up a violent mess and create a even worse situation.

[Mediocrates]

There are some reports that Arafat is very ill. What if he just up and dies without a fight?

[Vic]

This would be a blessing.

[Mediocrates]

I guess my question is, for a guy who's spent considerable effort eliminating internal competition and ignoring a succession plan, what can we expect if he just croaks? Anarchy, a division of Palistan into West Palistan and East Palistan? One thing people have to understand is that this man literally holds the finances of the PA in his own hands. He and his wife are the only people who can sign checks in the bank accounts that hold almost all of the PA funds.

[MGB8]

Don't worry, we are going after hamas now.

But if there is a Palestinian Civil War (which I think there needs to be, they need to make up their minds) and a more extreme government prevails, so what.

Now we have a group who are at least honest about their malintentions.

In reality, pretty much nothing is worse than what we have right now.

[Mr. Pumps]

:) Makes me think of a much closer version of Lebanon, 1982 . It might be just that in the Months to come.