Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat is hoping John Kerry wins the US presidential election in November, WorldNetDaily.com reports.
Chief PA negotiator and spokesman Saeb Erekat told WND that while "we do not involve ourselves in internal American politics," at the same time "our region has been sliding deeper and deeper into chaos because of certain policies over the past few years, and this needs to change." Erekat did not directly endorse Kerry, but he did threaten, "If things continue the way they are, if certain policies toward our region are maintained in the years to come, there is going to be a lot of violence on both sides."
A prominent Arafat aide who asked to remain anonymous similarly told WorldNetDaily that Arafat is "frustrated with Bush's policies," and "thinks Kerry will be much better for the Palestinian cause and for the establishment of a Palestinian state."
Another leading PA figure, Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath, said the future of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process is unsure if George W. Bush is re-elected to office. Voice of Israel Radio reported this morning that Shaath is the leading candidate to replace PA prime minister Ahmed Qurei, who is once again considering handing in his resignation. Qurei says he will quit after the American elections if his authorities are not enhanced.
"Many Israeli and American Jewish leaders," WND reports, "have been expressing concern that a Kerry administration will cause more violence in the Middle East and could bring Arafat back to power. They say they are worried about Kerry's statements of coordinating American foreign policy with the Europeans, some of whom favor talks with Arafat, and are disturbed by Kerry's appointment of several former Clinton Mideast policy directors as advisers, particularly former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk."
Chief PA negotiator and spokesman Saeb Erekat told WND that while "we do not involve ourselves in internal American politics," at the same time "our region has been sliding deeper and deeper into chaos because of certain policies over the past few years, and this needs to change." Erekat did not directly endorse Kerry, but he did threaten, "If things continue the way they are, if certain policies toward our region are maintained in the years to come, there is going to be a lot of violence on both sides."
A prominent Arafat aide who asked to remain anonymous similarly told WorldNetDaily that Arafat is "frustrated with Bush's policies," and "thinks Kerry will be much better for the Palestinian cause and for the establishment of a Palestinian state."
Another leading PA figure, Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath, said the future of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process is unsure if George W. Bush is re-elected to office. Voice of Israel Radio reported this morning that Shaath is the leading candidate to replace PA prime minister Ahmed Qurei, who is once again considering handing in his resignation. Qurei says he will quit after the American elections if his authorities are not enhanced.
"Many Israeli and American Jewish leaders," WND reports, "have been expressing concern that a Kerry administration will cause more violence in the Middle East and could bring Arafat back to power. They say they are worried about Kerry's statements of coordinating American foreign policy with the Europeans, some of whom favor talks with Arafat, and are disturbed by Kerry's appointment of several former Clinton Mideast policy directors as advisers, particularly former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk."