Posted on 10/12/2003 3:56:26 PM PDT by blam
Qureia gives Arafat final ultimatum
By Eric Silver in Jerusalem
13 October 2003
Ahmed Qureia, the Palestinian Prime Minister, told Yasser Arafat yesterday that he will resign in another three weeks if the men fail to resolve a dispute over control of Palestinian security services.
He would be the second Prime Minister to throw in the towel within two months - his predecessor, Abu Mazen, lost a power struggle with the President. Mr Qureia, who has a reputation as a more skilled political operator, tried to avoid a clash, but Mr Arafat is still refusing to take a back seat.
For three more weeks, Mr Qureia will head a seven-man emergency cabinet, but it lacks an Interior Minister. General Nasser Yousef, his choice for the post, is demanding full authority over the multiplicity of security services, which would have the main role curbing the militants and inducing Israel back to the negotiating table.
But Mr Arafat insists on keeping the reins in his own hands. General Yousef recently accused Mr Arafat of being the "most incompetent revolutionary leader of all time".
Basem Barhoum, Mr Qureia's spokesman, told The Independent: "The crisis has not been resolved. It has simply been put on hold. At the end of the three weeks, Mr Qureia will have two options - to form a normal government, or to get out of this movie."
Mr Qureia, a former parliamentary speaker, does not want to continue with an emergency government, whose legitimacy is being challenged by Palestinian legislators.
Ghassan Hatib, a former minister, said it was a very important issue for the Palestinians. "It is," he said, "a question of respect for the constitution. The Interior Minister's authority is an issue for the Israelis and the Americans."
In the Gaza Strip yesterday, Israel pulled most of its troops out of the Rafah refugee camp, where they had been searching since Thursday for tunnels they claim are used to smuggle weapons from Egypt. A military spokesman said the operation would continue.
The soldiers destroyed three tunnels while fighting fierce resistance but found no arms. In the exchanges, they killed eight Palestinians, including two boys aged eight and 12.
During yesterday's lull, Palestinian militias fired three Qassam rockets from Gaza into southern Israel. Two landed near a kibbutz and a third near the town of Sderot. No casualties were reported.
Deja vu all over again...
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At last a Palestinian who gets it. Now, all we need is one with the authority to do something about it.
How's Arafat's health? If we don't know because he hasn't been able to see a doctor, that would be fine.
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