Professor Qasem (Arafat critic) to nominate himself for president of Palestine

IRNA | 20:12 local

[Int]

Palestine-Elections /WRD/

Najah professor to nominate himself for president of Palestine

Al-Khalil, May 18, IRNA -- A Palestinian professor of political science and frequent critic of PA chairman Yasser Arafat said on Saturday he would run for president of Palestine if and when general elections were held in the West Bank and Gaza Strip as promised by Arafat.

The would-be candidate, Dr. Abdul Sattar Qasem, said the purpose of his candidacy was to break a taboo in Palestinian politics where Palestinian leaders normally refrain from challenging Arafat whose leadership he said 'inflicted one disaster after the other on our people'.

"Arafat and his authority have destroyed the moral and social infrastructure of our society. We will try to fix that which has been destroyed and give people a new hope for a better tomorrow."

Qasem, who teaches political science at al-Najah University in Nablus, also criticized the Palestinian opposition, Islamic and secular alike, saying they utterly failed to stop Arafat from 'wrecking the Palestinian boat' and did very little besides talking.

"They couldn't come up with an alternative, and Arafat and his cronies continued to wreck the country and the people."

Qasem said his political platform consisted of two main themes: reforming and restructuring the Palestinian political arena; and seeking a political settlement based on the repatriation of Palestinian refugees expelled from their homes by Jewish terrorist gangs in 1948.

KA/NK/AH End

::irna 20:12

[goldstategop]

Arafat will be "reelected" with 98% of the vote.

[Pining_4_TX]

Would this be Casey Qasem? (Sorry, I couldn't resist.)

[Shermy]

Not if its legit. One unreported item is how corrupt the "govt" there is. Plenty say it. It is ignored in the Western press because it would besmirch Arafat.

[BJClinton]

This guy will be dead before there are elections.

[weikel]

Though I know this will be rigged in Arafart's favor I hope Hamas wins so Israeli has an excuse to really start kicking ass.

[My Favorite Headache]

Eggs Ackley...Hamas will be making a trip to his home shortly.

[BJClinton]

I'm sure we'll see pictures of him hanging upside-down with his guts ripped out. That's what they do with all collaborators.

[mhking]

"Keep your feet in the stars, and your face in the mud"....Oops....wrong Kasem....

[SICSEMPERTYRANNUS]

Eggs Ackley...Hamas will be making a trip to his home shortly

Doorbell rings...Telegram!...uuuhh Hamas...uhh I mean land shark

[anniegetyourgun]

I would have said the same thing except that if he is someone who might actually have a chance and would work with Israel, the guy might get lots of personal 'protection' and possibly even remain in hiding until elections.

[monkeyshine]

Well, at least it's not Kasey Qasam from America's Top 40.

[Redcloak]

Arafat will be "reelected" with 98% of the vote.

...and Qasem will be lying in ditch somewhere assuming ambient temperature.

[whenigettime]

A DEMOCRATIC Palestinian state.... Uh huh, sure... you betcha! No problem! They'll just have a leetle vote and viola! a president!!! What a joke. I say let the Israelis finish what they started.

[ladyinred]

I think you win the cigar!
Opps, sorry BJClinton, bad choice of words!

[HiTech RedNeck]

Qasem said his political platform consisted of two main themes: reforming and restructuring the Palestinian political arena; and seeking a political settlement based on the repatriation of Palestinian refugees expelled from their homes by Jewish terrorist gangs in 1948.

Watch this guy; just because he doesn't like Arafat (enemy of our enemy) doesn't mean he's our friend. If Israel were ever to "re-accept" the refugees, there wouldn't be any more pro-Jewish majority in it.

[Reagan is King]

Ya gotta admire his courage for speaking out with all the assassins running around over there. I'll bet he will have an "accident" before any election would ever be held.

[BJClinton]

I hope you're right on all counts.

[Torie]

seeking a political settlement based on the repatriation of Palestinian refugees expelled from their homes by Jewish terrorist gangs in 1948

The search for the holy grail of a moderate Palestinian is not yet over.