Notice that the Israeli government announced it will remove Yasir Arafat after two events ? the deaths of 13 Jews in twin bombings and the selection of a paradoxical new prime minister for the Palestinians.
It looks like Prime Minister Ariel Sharon?s security cabinet reached that decision after obvious disgust with the September 9 bombings in Jerusalem and near Tel Aviv, but maybe it was for another reason altogether: The new Palestinian prime minister, Ahmed Qurei, asked them to finally go through with it or threaten Arafat with that fate.
Consider this scenario: Qurei and other Palestinian leaders sound like pragmatists, but they have the difficulty of building Palestinian support. What Qurei needs to do on behalf of the Palestinians contradicts the attitudes of many Palestinians.
Qurei and company are not blind to the way their people have suffered during, especially, the last three years. However, they know there is little or no sympathy from the Israelis after the Palestinians waged war against Israel following the government?s offer of a peace settlement. They are all too aware that Israel will give the Palestinians nothing if they persist in engaging in violence. However, they need to build support among their people to accomplish anything, and many Palestinians view with disdain and suspicion any so-called leader who pleases the Israelis.
If Qurei can ultimately deliver substantial improvements, then maybe the Palestinians will become more moderate and disassociate themselves from the extremists.
So, if he is really serious, Qurei is playing for time.
What seems like odd timing is Qurei?s demand that Arafat be treated with more respect by Israel just a short time before the security council decided to oust Arafat, presumably by exile, prison or death.
Ultimately, Arafat?s departure would help Qurei, because Arafat will be out of his hair and the Palestinians will have no alternative around whom to rally. After all, I read one report that noted that supposedly moderate Palestinian leaders asked Israel to crack down on Hamas, because Hamas is as a big threat to them as to Israel. It?s likely that the same leaders would be just as satisfied if Arafat left the vicinity in some form.
Qurei has a balancing act ahead of him that Mahmoud Abbas could not hold up. He can?t afford to be perceived as Israel?s lapdog.
He is a paradoxical figure. He has been very demanding of Israel and, according to one account, stomped on an Israeli flag. Yet, he headed the Palestinian group that negotiated the Oslo Accords and has close relations with Israeli officials.
If he is genuinely amenable to peace, Qurei will talk tough publicly, but work seriously with the Israelis behind the scenes and work to accomplish something for the Palestinians that is not unreasonable to the Israelis.
Again, this is just speculation. Cynics are going to say that nothing like it will happen. I lean toward that view myself, but there is reason to believe that there is room for optimism. Let?s keep our fingers crossed.
It looks like Prime Minister Ariel Sharon?s security cabinet reached that decision after obvious disgust with the September 9 bombings in Jerusalem and near Tel Aviv, but maybe it was for another reason altogether: The new Palestinian prime minister, Ahmed Qurei, asked them to finally go through with it or threaten Arafat with that fate.
Consider this scenario: Qurei and other Palestinian leaders sound like pragmatists, but they have the difficulty of building Palestinian support. What Qurei needs to do on behalf of the Palestinians contradicts the attitudes of many Palestinians.
Qurei and company are not blind to the way their people have suffered during, especially, the last three years. However, they know there is little or no sympathy from the Israelis after the Palestinians waged war against Israel following the government?s offer of a peace settlement. They are all too aware that Israel will give the Palestinians nothing if they persist in engaging in violence. However, they need to build support among their people to accomplish anything, and many Palestinians view with disdain and suspicion any so-called leader who pleases the Israelis.
If Qurei can ultimately deliver substantial improvements, then maybe the Palestinians will become more moderate and disassociate themselves from the extremists.
So, if he is really serious, Qurei is playing for time.
What seems like odd timing is Qurei?s demand that Arafat be treated with more respect by Israel just a short time before the security council decided to oust Arafat, presumably by exile, prison or death.
Ultimately, Arafat?s departure would help Qurei, because Arafat will be out of his hair and the Palestinians will have no alternative around whom to rally. After all, I read one report that noted that supposedly moderate Palestinian leaders asked Israel to crack down on Hamas, because Hamas is as a big threat to them as to Israel. It?s likely that the same leaders would be just as satisfied if Arafat left the vicinity in some form.
Qurei has a balancing act ahead of him that Mahmoud Abbas could not hold up. He can?t afford to be perceived as Israel?s lapdog.
He is a paradoxical figure. He has been very demanding of Israel and, according to one account, stomped on an Israeli flag. Yet, he headed the Palestinian group that negotiated the Oslo Accords and has close relations with Israeli officials.
If he is genuinely amenable to peace, Qurei will talk tough publicly, but work seriously with the Israelis behind the scenes and work to accomplish something for the Palestinians that is not unreasonable to the Israelis.
Again, this is just speculation. Cynics are going to say that nothing like it will happen. I lean toward that view myself, but there is reason to believe that there is room for optimism. Let?s keep our fingers crossed.