Abu Mazen threatens to quit after row with Arafat

Jerusalem Post ^ | 4/19/03 | By KHALED ABU TOAMEH

[Bessellieu]

Apr. 19, 2003 Abu Mazen threatens to quit after row with Arafat By KHALED ABU TOAMEH.

A drama was underway in Ramallah Saturday night after Palestinian prime minister-designate Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) stormed out of a meeting of Fatah's central council to announce that he was quitting.

The meeting, chaired by Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat, was held to discuss the composition of the new Palestinian cabinet. This is the second time in the past week that Abbas and Arafat have clashed over the new cabinet.

Palestinian sources said the latest row erupted when Arafat announced that he planned to retain control over the Palestinian security forces. According to senior Palestinian officials, Arafat told Abbas that he remains opposed to giving the security portfolio in the new cabinet to former security chief Mohammed Dahlan.

At the stormy meeting, some Fatah officials also accused Abbas of seeking to marginalize the organization's role in the new cabinet.

"There's a very serious crisis," said one official. "Abbas has said that he isn't interested in the job of prime minister."

It was unclear if Abbas's decision is final. Several Palestinian officials were trying Saturday night to talk Abbas into meeting with Arafat to solve the crisis.

A source close to Abbas told The Jerusalem Post: "Arafat is placing too many obstacles that make it impossible to form an independent cabinet. He wants to remain in charge of everything. That's why Abbas doesn't feel that he can accomplish his job successfully."

[Bessellieu]

So much for a replacement for Arafat...

[thoughtomator]

Looks like we need an off-roadmap

[Textide]

He'll never let go so long as he lives. I'd hate for a new government to assassinate someone in order to be formed, but Arafat is standing in the way of the formation of their state.

[okie01]

"So much for a replacement for Arafat..."

Until the Palestinian people reject Arafat, something they will doubtless have to do forcibly, there will be no progress toward a Palestinian state.

Nor should there be.

Perhaps, Yassir could take a cue from his good buddy, Bill, and live large, tour the world, pocket large gobs of money...all the while getting a little on the side. Surely, some of Bill's buddies can set him up with a few little boys...

[CyberAnt]

I think you're right - but the Palestinians have to figure that out for themselves. The sad part is that Arafat says one thing in English and something else in Arabic. He's been doing that for years.

Arafat firmly believes that Israel does not have the right to exist. This is the culmination of 4000 years of hatred toward the Jews. The "road map" does not have a chance while Arafat is alive.

[Servant of the Nine]

We now have no obligation to impose a "roadmap" to Palestinian autonomy.

Thanks Yasser, you got us off the hook.

SO9

[sd-joe]

>> "Looks like we need an off-roadmap "

Definitely, and an off-Arafat map also.

[secretagent]

Arafat firmly believes that Israel does not have the right to exist.

If you have a source handy for this, I'd appreciate it.

[Bessellieu]

"If you have a source handy for this, I'd appreciate it."

How about all the innocent Israelis that have been killed over the last 2 1/2 years???

[CyberAnt]

I don't. I only know that Arafat has made that statement many times. If you have access to his speeches, you can probably find it.

Of course, this has been a standard reason for the attacks against Israel for years. In fact, President Bush said one of the criteria for a Palentinian State was the fact they had to acknowledge Israel's right to exist.

[HardStarboard]

>>>If you have a source handy for this, I'd appreciate it. <<<

What kind of engine do you have in that turnip truck?

With this single utterance you have successfully dispelled any impression of awareness you may have heretofor fostered in those that read your posts.

[tomahawk]

Kill Arafat now. Send him to Hell, where he belongs.

It's a win-win situation for Israelis and Arabs.

[tet68]

This is SUCH a shock, I'm shocked I tell you! SHOCKED!

[The Wizard]

arafat needs a bullett

[secretagent]

(I got this from Google/CNN)





Palestinians affirm Israel's right to exist

U.S., Palestinians, Israelis to hold summit

December 14, 1998
Web posted at: 2:27 p.m. EST (1927 GMT)

GAZA CITY, Gaza (CNN) -- Palestinian
leaders on Monday approved a measure
affirming the right of Israel to exist. Israeli
officials welcomed the move, but cautioned
that more action must be taken to revive the
faltering peace process.

Rising from their seats and voting by raising
their hands, the Palestine National Council
voted nearly unanimously to remove clauses
from the Palestine Liberation Organization
charter that call for the destruction of Israel.

"I hope this will close the chapter forever," said Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat,
who spoke at length in favor of the action.

Following Arafat's speech, President Bill Clinton, the
first U.S. president to visit Palestinian territory,
addressed the assembly.

Applauding Arafat for moving toward peace with
Israel, Clinton said, "I know the way is often difficult
and frustrating, but you have come to this point
through a commitment to peace and negotiations."

Following the vote, an Israeli official told CNN that
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would meet with
his advisers immediately and that a three-way summit
with Clinton and Arafat would take place late Monday
or early Tuesday.

More than 450 members of the Palestine National Council attended the meeting, along with
hundreds of other Palestinian notables, including former guerrilla fighters and suspected
terrorists.

The PNC meeting was one of the requirements of the Wye River peace accord that Clinton helped
negotiate. The accord says the delegates were to "reaffirm" a letter from Arafat to Clinton in
which he lists the clauses of the PLO founding charter that are considered null and void.

Israel "satisfied" but wants
more action

Israel "expressed satisfaction" with the
Palestinian move, according to a spokesman for
Netanyahu.

But the vote did not ensure the success of the
peace process. Israel has already said it would
not pull back troops on Friday, as required under
the Wye accord, even if the PNC session met its
expectations.

Netanyahu says the Palestinians also need to
stop West Bank violence and publicly withdraw
from plans to declare a state in May 1999.

Delegates at the PNC meeting said the Palestinians were committed to peace.

"We are serious and willing to go ahead and achieve peace for
both Israel and the Palestinians," said former guerrilla fighter
Abu Sharif, who reportedly plotted airplane hijackings in the
1970s and recruited the terrorist "Carlos the Jackal."

Others in the audience included Mohammed Oudeh, implicated
by Israeli and American intelligence experts in planning the
hostage-taking at the 1972 Munich Olympics that left 11 Israeli
athletes dead.

Most of the delegates were middle-aged men in dark suits, many
of them graying and balding. Some wore gold-embroidered caps
of the Palestinian security forces, others traditional white head
dresses.

The Palestinian Authority permitted both Israeli TV stations to
broadcast live from the Shawa Center and Israeli reporters to
move freely to interview delegates.

In Jerusalem, legislators crowded around a TV set in the cafeteria
of Israel's parliament, the Knesset, to watch the proceedings.

[CyberAnt]

Yes, that's what Arafat said in public - however, in Arabic - when the western world was not watching and listening, he told the Palestinians that he did not believe Israel had the right to exist.

His lies to his own people (most of whom could not speak or read English) were finally exposed. Arafat has been silent on the subject ever since then.

[cookcounty]

Why are the Israelis so keen on Abu Mazen? He's practically a Nazi, with some extremely dangerous views.

[secretagent]

Yes, so I've heard - that Arafat has repudiated his very public statements affirming Israel's right to exist. Although in this case not just Arafat would have lied - apparently almost the entire PLO council as well.

I don't deny that Arafat lied. I just want a source without having to Google all evening.

[Teetop]

President Clinton traveled to the Middle East December 12-15, 1998. Following an historic address to the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) in Gaza in which Clinton called for establishment of a Palestinian state, he witnessed a PLC vote "fully and forever" rejecting conflict with Israel and revoking articles of the Palestinian Charter calling for the destruction of Israel. However, since the PLC is the council of the Palestine National Authority, and not of the PLO, it si not clear if the vote was binding.

The intact charter is still (2002) displayed at Web sites of the Palestinian Authority, with separate references to letters annulling sections that are not in agreement with the Oslo accords, but without specifying which sections are annulled. The Fatah constitution still (2002) calls for the destruction of Israel. Fateh is the main constituent of the PLO. In September 2000, violence broke out in the occupied territories, disrupting ongoing negotiations, despite the PLC vote rejecting conflict with Israel.


Letter From Yassar Arafat to President Clinton
January 13, 1998


His Excellency President William Clinton
President of the United states Of America
Washington D.C.

Dear Mr. President.

In the. mutual recognition letters between myself and the late Prime Minister Itzhaq Rabbin of September 9/10, 1993, the PLO committed to recognize the right of the State of Israel to exist in peace and security, to accept UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 and to a peaceful resolution of the conflict between the two ides. The PLO also agreed to secure the necessary changes in the Palestinian Covenant to reflect these commitments.

Accordingly, the P.N.C. was held in Gaza city between 22-25 of April 1996, and in an extraordinary session decided that the "Palestine National Charter is hereby amended by canceling the articles that are contrary to the letters exchanged between the P.L.O and the Government of Israel on 9/10 September 1993".

It should be noted that the above mentioned resolution acquired the consent of both the American Administration and the Israeli Government. Afterwards I sent letters concerning this historic resolution to your Excellency and Prime Minister Shimon Peres, and later a similar letter was sent to Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu.

Both your Excellency and Prime Minister Peres warmly welcomed the P.N.C. Resolution.

The Israeli Labor Party, and in appreciation of the P.N.C. resolution dropped its objection to the establishment of a Palestinian State from its political platform.

From time to time questions have been raised about the effect of the Palestine National Council's action, particularly concerning which of the 33 articles of the Palestinian Covenant have been changed.

We would like to put to rest these concerns. The Palestine National Council's resolution, in accordance with Article 33 of the Covenant, is a comprehensive amendment of the Covenant. All of the provisions of the Covenant which are inconsistent with the P.L.O. commitment to recognize and live in peace side by side with Israel are no longer in effect.

As a result, Articles 6-10,15, 19-23, and 30 have been nullified, and the parts in Articles 1-5, 11-14, 16-l8, 25-27 and 29 that are in consistent with the above mentioned commitments have also been nullified.

I can assure you on behalf of the PLO and the Palestinian Authority that all the provisions of the Covenant that were inconsistent with the commitments of September 9/10, 1993 ) to P rime Minister Rabin, have been nullified.

Nablus : January 13, 1998

Yasser Arafat

Chairman of the Executive Committee Of the P.L.O
President of the P.N.A.
http://www.mideastweb.org/arafatwye1998.htm

You were saying?

[CyberAnt]

Sorry, I can't help you there.