Another Opportunity to Miss an Opportunity

[NewsGuy]

An IsraelForum.com original article:

Another Opportunity to Miss an Opportunity
April 22, 2003
By Michael Rand

(IsraelForum.com) -- Huge rifts in the Palestinian leadership came to light recently, as newly appointed Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas engaged in public debate with Yasser Arafat. The dispute began when Arafat blocked Abbas' appointment of ministers who might oppose terrorism, and within a week, the tension escalated to the point that the Palestinian Prime Minister threatened to resign his post.

In reaction, the United States, flanked by the European Union, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and even high-ranking members of the Saudi regime phoned Arafat and issued dire warnings about thwarting the new prime minister's appointments. By squeezing Arafat directly and unanimously, the world essentially acknowledged that Arafat is the barrier to peace in the Middle East, and has begun an unprecedented campaign to force Arafat into submission.

To back up their warnings to Arafat, the U.S. and the EU threatened to withhold revealing details of their Mideast "Roadmap," which ultimately would lead to the creation of an independent Palestinian state in 2005. As usual though, the Palestinians once again demonstrated that they will never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.

According to U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher, it was "urgent" that the Palestinians complete the process of establishing a government. "The Palestinian people deserve serious leaders ready to work toward the vision of two independent states, an independent Palestine living side by side with Israel. That's the opportunity now. We would hope they would not miss it," he said.

The Reluctant Fig Leaf

But recent events indicate that for Arafat, his appointment of long-time loyalist Mahmoud Abbas, aka Abu Mazen, was just a ploy to maintain control over the Palestinian regime, while throwing the U.S. and EU a bone to placate them. Arafat's plan was to continue terrorism as usual with his new Prime Minister serving as a fig leaf of sorts in the international arena. But Abu Mazen took Arafat by surprise, as the new Palestinian Prime Minister sought a measure of independence in choosing his own cabinet -- a turn of events that enraged Arafat.

At the center of the dispute were the appointment of former Gaza security force chief Muhammad Dahlan, and the notion of dismantling the al Aqsa Brigades. Dahlan, while a bloodthirsty thug who organized a myriad of suicide bombings, as well as helped coordinate the Karine A weapons shipment, is still opposed by Arafat for two reasons. First, Dahlan is a charismatic political figure (unlike Abu Mazen), who might overtake Arafat's aging inner circle someday and, therefore, represents a threat to Arafat's regime. Secondly, Dahlan is considered one of the only Palestinian figures with the capability to stand up to terrorist groups, if he should be inclined to do so. For this reason, Ariel Sharon backs Dahlan's nomination, which only adds fuel to the fire of Arafat's opposition.

Terrorist Assets

The other point of contention involves the al Aqsa Brigades, a Palestinian group sitting at the top of the State Department's list of terrorist organizations. The group is responsible for the massacres of scores of Israeli and American citizens. As a part of Arafat's al Fatah party (equivalent to Iraq's Baath party), al Aqsa receives its orders directly from Arafat, and is therefore a terrorist asset the Palestinian leader is loath to let go.

Despite the disagreement with Arafat, it is far from certain that Abu Mazen intends on eradicating Palestinian terrorism altogether. Groups like Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Palestinian Hizbullah, al Aqsa, and any other group bent on mass-murdering Israelis and Americans tend to enjoy huge support among the Palestinian people. Nonetheless, as he reached an impasse with Abbas, Arafat began to consider other, more pro-terrorism candidates like Arafat's chief terrorism apologist Saeb Erekat. However, as soon as Arafat started naming potential replacements for Abu Mazen, the U.S. and the EU informed Arafat, in no uncertain terms, that only Abu Mazen would do.

A "strong and empowered Palestinian cabinet, headed by Abu Mazen, committed to serious efforts on reform and security, is deeply in the interest of the Palestinian people," Richard Boucher said, speaking at the April 21 State Department briefing.

In Arafat's Court

Still, Arafat reportedly hung up the phone on an unnamed senior European diplomat who was recently urging Arafat to back down. For the Father of Modern Terrorism, Yasser Arafat, suicide bombings and mass-murders make up his usual way of doing business. During his entire career, he has never been presented by the Europeans with a clear choice of stopping the killing of innocents, or facing serious retribution.

The question is whether the world is finally serious about forcing the Palestinians to change their ways. It seems that even now, after the fall of his ally and hero, Saddam Hussein, Arafat does not realize that a new day is dawning in the Middle East. But the choice is becoming clearer to Arafat as his traditional European backers apply a new level of pressure on the Palestinian dictator. If the Europeans persist, there may be a chance for real progress in the Israeli/Palestinian war. If they don’t, then all bets are off and the Palestinians will have to finally go it alone against Israel with America's blessing. The ball is now in the Palestinians' court.


* * *

What do you think?

[humus_sapiens]

An inveterate terrorist and power-hungry despot, Arafat is no longer the president of the Palestinian Authority: he was elected to a 5-year term of office in 1996. His legal authority ended in January, 2001.

He has killed the 'road map', just as he has killed a dozen other opportunities for Arab-Israel-Palestinian reconciliation over the past 35 years. He holds on to power and purse at the expense of his own people, even knowing that his obduracy squanders their last best hope for peace and a state of their own.

Why is he still at the steering wheel, spitting in the face of the entire world, continuing incitements and spilling blood of innocents?

[JustPat]

Considering the age of both Arafat and Mazen, shouldn't we be looking at what this is setting the stage for in the next five years. No matter who holds the power today, until this supposed road map has any chance of being implimented in what ever mutation it finally takes we will likely see a whole new leadership in the Palestinian specter. If we fail to look ahead we could easily be caught with our backs to the knife that will be plunged deep into the "peace process."

Arafat and Mazen will work a deal, or Arafat will be deposed, or Mazen will fall victim to a tragic accident, or some other "solution" will appear. But, what is the real story? What real chance does peace have unless those who broker it all negotiate in good faith and have the support of the people they represent?

[L@mplighterM]

I think the time has come for Israel to issue a deck of several thousand cards with Arafat being the death card (Ace of Spades). Find him guilty and execute him.

[wellofvow]

The subject, "a groisseh metziah" translates to a sarcastic: "Abbas - a big find".

Abbas's doctoral dissertation (from Moscow's Oriental University in 1983, so we KNOW that Abbas is fully informed as to democracy) stated, among other things, that Ben Gurion declared war on Nazi Germany in 1942, and that this brought about the decision to murder Jews under Nazism, but there were less than one million, according to Abbas.

In an August 2000 interview, Abbas supported the "right of return" of "Palestinian refugees". He also said that he does not believe that Solomon's Temple ever existed in Jerusalem.

In a 2001 interview in a PA newspaper, Abbas stated very clearly that for the Palestinians to be flexible in Palestinian demands on Israel is unacceptable. According to this interview, to admit that the PA "missed an opportunity" for peace is to "weaken the Palestinian position". In other words, Abbas believes in getting it all and compromising nothing, or continue the status quo, just like - who?

Both Abbas and Dahlan built multi-million dollar mansions from kickbacks from the cement monopolies in Gaza and milking the public trough. Photographers were forbidden to take pictures of these mansions.

Speaking of reforms in May 2002, just one year ago, Abbas showed the influence of his Soviet education. His idea of reform includes taking all economic power away from Palestinian civilians and placing it in the hands of the PA. All funds transferred to the PA by international NGOs must go directly to the PA which will decide how the monies will be apportioned. According to the track record of the PA cabinet of Arafat, which resembles so closely that suggested by Abbas as to be nearly indistinguishable, I would assume that the last part means that monies will go to who needs a multimillion dollar villa most.

As for his stance on terror, Abbas has come out against terror, true, but not per se, as an evil thing of itself. He believes that terror should be stopped BECAUSE IT DID NOT WORK AS A STRATEGY.

(Based on this pragmatic outlook, in addition to his prior on-the-record comments, I must assume that, if chemical or biological weapons should somehow find their way into Abbas' hands, should he be Prime Minister, he would seriously consider their use on Israeli citizens, since IT MIGHT WORK AS A STRATEGY.)

All these points, except the paragraph above in parentheses, were from "Column One" in the Jerusalem Post, Friday April 25, 2003.

I watched Israel News on Channel One last night, and saw someone ask Arafat if he was "satisfied" with the "deal" worked out with Abbas. Arafat had had the whole world breathless, on the edge of their chairs, with his "decision" over Abbas. In reply to the question, Arafat - and I believe very strongly in body language, one is a fool not to believe in it - smiled broadly and smugly, and replied "Of course I am satisfied - I arranged it."

Gee, and I thought that Powell made it VERY clear that Arafat is no longer in control. Funny, he sure seems in control to me. He appointed Abbas, Abbas formed a cabinet which was nearly the clone of Arafat's, Arafat and Abbas staged a "standoff" so phony that anybody who had watched a second of wrestling would recognize it as phony, big deal when Arafat "concedes" to Abbas to give the impression that Abbas is a credible non-Arafat, then Arafat smiles and says, in essence, "I won." Of COURSE he did.

All these points should give serious pause to all those who believe that Abbas is any fresh wind of reform in the PA. It's the same old scent of fertilizer.

[JustPat]

And now the question is, if everything remains status quo, will the US and international community have the guts to act accordingly. I have my doubts.

[Blueprint]

Here's Arafat refusing to disarm Al-Aqsa, from just a few days ago:

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/S...ID=0&listSrc=Y

[wellofvow]

Originally posted by JustPat
And now the question is, if everything remains status quo, will the US and international community have the guts to act accordingly. I have my doubts.

We gave up on the "international community" decades ago.

As for the US, depends on who calls the shots, really. If they give the State Department the nod, well, I made my will out years ago.