It is assumed that he will rescind his resignation after mutually agreeable arrangements are made.
"The resignation is part of the power struggles in the PA," reported Arutz-7's Haggai Huberman today, "but one thing is clear: Yasser Arafat is the main power in the Palestinian Authority. Abu Mazen controls hardly anything, and Arafat is more relevant than ever [a reference to an Israeli Cabinet decision of last year that Arafat is "irrelevant" - ed. note]. Most of the treasury is in Arafat's hands, and even Salam Fayad, the new Treasury Minister who is said to be an Abu Mazen loyalist, takes his orders from Arafat... All the regional governors are Arafat men, and a few days ago he issued an order expanding their authorities..."
Huberman said that at present, "it's in Arafat's interest not to block Abu Mazen and the diplomatic process. This is because he does not want to be blamed for stopping a process in which PA control returns to the territory and the prisoners are released. Arafat is building himself up as a popular leader - people come to him for grants, such as 200 families whose homes were damaged in Khan Yunis, and to solve disputes, such as the recent large feud between clans in Hevron. He is building himself as a populist leader, as opposed to the 'cold and detached' Abu Mazen..."
Huberman said that Israel realizes what is going on, "but is locked into this line of strengthening Abu Mazen, mainly because of very heavy American pressure. It's hard to believe, however, that it's really strengthening him; I think Abu Mazen, after hearing Dan Kurtzer say yesterday that the Americans are trying to strengthen him only in order to weaken Arafat, understands that he's just a pawn. I don't think it's really working... Abu Mazen and Dahlan understand the public support for Arafat, and consult with him all the time. After the recent meeting with Sharon, and then after the meeting with Condoleeza Rice, they went straight to the Mukata to brief Arafat. True, they had to make the decisions on the spot, but Arafat is always in the picture."
Meanwhile, following the revelation that hudna-signatory Islamic Jihad was responsible for the murderous attack on Mazal Afari in her home on Monday night, Prime Minister Sharon's office announced last night, "The hudna is not worth the paper it's written on."
Islamic Jihad continues to warn, in a most Orwellian style, that although the hudna is still in force, it will continue to perpetrate attacks against Israel unless all the terrorists are released. Israel is currently willing to release some 400 prisoners, while the Arabs demand 6,500 - including murderers.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Kurtzer said last night, following Abu Mazen's resignation from the Fatah Central Committee, that Abu Mazen is "a weak person who runs away from confrontations and difficulties." The PA leadership immediately demanded an apology and a clarification from the United States.
"The resignation is part of the power struggles in the PA," reported Arutz-7's Haggai Huberman today, "but one thing is clear: Yasser Arafat is the main power in the Palestinian Authority. Abu Mazen controls hardly anything, and Arafat is more relevant than ever [a reference to an Israeli Cabinet decision of last year that Arafat is "irrelevant" - ed. note]. Most of the treasury is in Arafat's hands, and even Salam Fayad, the new Treasury Minister who is said to be an Abu Mazen loyalist, takes his orders from Arafat... All the regional governors are Arafat men, and a few days ago he issued an order expanding their authorities..."
Huberman said that at present, "it's in Arafat's interest not to block Abu Mazen and the diplomatic process. This is because he does not want to be blamed for stopping a process in which PA control returns to the territory and the prisoners are released. Arafat is building himself up as a popular leader - people come to him for grants, such as 200 families whose homes were damaged in Khan Yunis, and to solve disputes, such as the recent large feud between clans in Hevron. He is building himself as a populist leader, as opposed to the 'cold and detached' Abu Mazen..."
Huberman said that Israel realizes what is going on, "but is locked into this line of strengthening Abu Mazen, mainly because of very heavy American pressure. It's hard to believe, however, that it's really strengthening him; I think Abu Mazen, after hearing Dan Kurtzer say yesterday that the Americans are trying to strengthen him only in order to weaken Arafat, understands that he's just a pawn. I don't think it's really working... Abu Mazen and Dahlan understand the public support for Arafat, and consult with him all the time. After the recent meeting with Sharon, and then after the meeting with Condoleeza Rice, they went straight to the Mukata to brief Arafat. True, they had to make the decisions on the spot, but Arafat is always in the picture."
Meanwhile, following the revelation that hudna-signatory Islamic Jihad was responsible for the murderous attack on Mazal Afari in her home on Monday night, Prime Minister Sharon's office announced last night, "The hudna is not worth the paper it's written on."
Islamic Jihad continues to warn, in a most Orwellian style, that although the hudna is still in force, it will continue to perpetrate attacks against Israel unless all the terrorists are released. Israel is currently willing to release some 400 prisoners, while the Arabs demand 6,500 - including murderers.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Kurtzer said last night, following Abu Mazen's resignation from the Fatah Central Committee, that Abu Mazen is "a weak person who runs away from confrontations and difficulties." The PA leadership immediately demanded an apology and a clarification from the United States.