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Tuesday, September 09, 2003


True colors revealed
If there was any further proof needed that the "office" of prime minister of the Palestinians is only a shill for Yasir Arafat's personal suzereinty over the Palestinians, this is it:

The man nominated to be the next Palestinian prime minister challenged a cornerstone of the Bush administration's Middle East policy today, saying that for him to succeed, Israel must stop isolating Yasir Arafat, the top Palestinian leader.

Ahmed Qurei, whom associates called all but certain to accept the post, said the White House must press the Israelis to restrain their military and to "change their way of dealing with President Arafat." . . . .

Speaking to reporters today, Mr. Qurei, an accomplished politician, seemed eager to reassure Palestinians of his loyalty to Mr. Arafat, who is regarded by Israel as a terrorist. Whether or not he expects the Bush administration to stop treating Mr. Arafat as an obstacle to peace, his fervently emphasized allegiance underscored a standing paradox of the administration's policy: It wants whoever becomes prime minister to undermine the very man from whom he derives authority.
As I pointed out yesterday, the much-ballyhooed Roadmap to Peace was nothing but smoke and mirrors to begin with. The reason is exactly as described: the Bush administration tried to freeze Arafat out, but the Palestinian PM - putatively the national chief executive of the Palestinains - is only a puppet for Arafat.

Recently-resigned PM Mahmud Abbas also consistently declared his loyalty to Arafat, but "he also told Palestinian legislators that Mr. Arafat had not backed him." Reason being that Abbas, poor fellow, actually seemed to think he was supposed to enjoy some real power.

by Donald Sensing, 9/9/2003 07:03:01 AM. Permalink |  





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