The Arabic London-based newspaper Al Hayat reports that Yasser Arafat may declare a Palestinian state during his speech in the United Nations next week. The paper quotes PA sources to this effect. However, some say that this report itself is merely a means of pressuring U.S. President George Bush to agree to meet Arafat. Bush has apparently reversed his original plan to meet with Arafat during the UN General Council meeting in New York next week. Arafat\'s aide MK Ahmed Tibi said this morning that he knows nothing of an intention by Arafat to declare a state.
Dr. Guy Bechor of the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya told Arutz-7 today that it does not appear at all logical that Arafat would consider declaring a state at this time: \"I think he has no interest in declaring nor in having such a state. First of all, as soon as there is a state, Israel has no further responsibility towards the Arabs there, just like Israel has no obligation to concern itself with the employment and sustenance of the Egyptians or the Lebanese. Secondly, if he declares a state, he would have to become a real leader - not just a legend, etc. Arafat currently sees himself as the continuation of the line of leaders, beginning with Salah a-Din, Gamal Abdel Nasser, and Saddam Hussein; but to establish a state is not so easy [and it would take away from his legendary image]. Third, he would then have to decide how big Hamas would be, how much representation, etc. These are not simple matters, and his mind is not quite ready for these. Also, if he declares a state on the territory he already has, it\'s as if he\'s giving in and accepting what we gave him, and the world will say, look, Israel gave you a state - what more do you want? ... On the other hand, if he does declare, what\'s the big deal? He already did so in Algiers in 1988...\"
Minister Danny Naveh was asked what Israel should do in the event that Arafat declares a state. \"My recommendation,\" Naveh told Arutz-7, \"would be that if Arafat declares unilaterally, we should also take unilateral steps of our own, as the Netanyahu government decided, including the possibility of annexing certain areas in Judea and Samaria...\"
Foreign Minister Shimon Peres met with Arafat in Brussels last night. Peres took the opportunity to criticize the Belgian government for allowing a group of Palestinians to sue Prime Minister Sharon for his part in events relating to the Sabra and Shatila massacres of 1982. \"What can a Belgian judge know about suicide terrorists and the like?\" asked Peres.
Dr. Guy Bechor of the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya told Arutz-7 today that it does not appear at all logical that Arafat would consider declaring a state at this time: \"I think he has no interest in declaring nor in having such a state. First of all, as soon as there is a state, Israel has no further responsibility towards the Arabs there, just like Israel has no obligation to concern itself with the employment and sustenance of the Egyptians or the Lebanese. Secondly, if he declares a state, he would have to become a real leader - not just a legend, etc. Arafat currently sees himself as the continuation of the line of leaders, beginning with Salah a-Din, Gamal Abdel Nasser, and Saddam Hussein; but to establish a state is not so easy [and it would take away from his legendary image]. Third, he would then have to decide how big Hamas would be, how much representation, etc. These are not simple matters, and his mind is not quite ready for these. Also, if he declares a state on the territory he already has, it\'s as if he\'s giving in and accepting what we gave him, and the world will say, look, Israel gave you a state - what more do you want? ... On the other hand, if he does declare, what\'s the big deal? He already did so in Algiers in 1988...\"
Minister Danny Naveh was asked what Israel should do in the event that Arafat declares a state. \"My recommendation,\" Naveh told Arutz-7, \"would be that if Arafat declares unilaterally, we should also take unilateral steps of our own, as the Netanyahu government decided, including the possibility of annexing certain areas in Judea and Samaria...\"
Foreign Minister Shimon Peres met with Arafat in Brussels last night. Peres took the opportunity to criticize the Belgian government for allowing a group of Palestinians to sue Prime Minister Sharon for his part in events relating to the Sabra and Shatila massacres of 1982. \"What can a Belgian judge know about suicide terrorists and the like?\" asked Peres.