Posted on 09/09/2004 11:18:58 PM PDT by yonif
Key European countries are pressing Israel to end its policy of isolating Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat.
The subject came up in recent meetings between Israeli officials and the Dutch and German foreign ministers, Bernard Bot and Joschka Fischer. Both said that while they are not fans of Arafat's leadership, it is necessary to talk with him.
But Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom responded that Israel is sticking with its policy of isolating Arafat.
Bot, the rotating president of the European Council of Foreign Ministers, met with Shalom in Maastricht last week and said that Israel's refusal to allow Arafat to leave his Muqata compound in Ramallah is a mistake. Shalom responded that Arafat is a terrorist who cannot play any positive role in making peace.
Bot countered that isolating Arafat only strengthens him, to which Shalom responded that it is European officials' "pilgrimages" to Arafat that strengthen him, thereby preventing the emergence of a more moderate Palestinian leadership. Bot said that the Europeans are trying to persuade Arafat to give more power to Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia.
Fischer, who is considered a friend of Israel, raised the need to speak with Arafat during a visit here 10 days ago, and repeated it to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's adviser, Dov Weisglass, in Berlin last weekend. Fischer believes that Israel needs a Palestinian partner to carry out the disengagement plan, and there are no options other than Arafat. Weisglass responded that peace will have to wait until Arafat disappears and meanwhile, Israel will focus on disengagement.
The European Union will continue to work with the rest of the international community to combat the scourge of terrorism," .
"confident that Indonesia would not spare any effort in finding and bringing to justice the perpetrators of this attack."
"underlined the EUs willingness to further strengthen its cooperation with the Indonesian and Australian authorities in the fight against terrorism."
Hypocrites R Us.
Ping.
I wouldn't isolate him either. He should be placed face down in a pine box wrapped in pig entrails which would be a very proper burial. That way he won't be isolated, he will be around all the people he convinced to martyr themselves while they enjoy the plesantries of hell.
Blessings, bobo
I agree Arafat should not be ignored...
Arafat should be killed...
Semper Fi
I couldn't agree more!!!!!! Don't isolate him, kill him.
Isolate Arafat? Yikes! Do as Rudy Guiliani did, ignore him, isolate him, then remove him....I know it was just at Lincoln Center, but it is a start.
Yasser Arafat is the Godfather of modern terrorism. There can be no resolution in the Middle East until he Arafat is gone. Israel should NEVER negotiate with those who wish to destroy it.
Still, ther's this old saying : better the devil you do know than the devil you don't...
Arafat is an old geezer and he will croak soon. This will open a window of opportunity for both Israel and Palestinians to get rid of the PA madness, terror-funding and corruption.
1st off no one anywhere should give a damn what the euroweenies think about anything. Second, the Israelis should kill yassar with prejudice and arab or world opinion be damned.
Unfortnately the Arabs are degenerating into a gangland war between factions to carve up the old Don's territory. Right now it looks like the PLO will be replaced by the Hizbullah, the Hamas is the third horse in the ring. That means that Egypt will loose position to Iran with Syria hot on its heels.
Must be frustrating to the European Union to have spent so much money to empower Arafat to destroy Israel's economy only to have him sidelined in the end.
Terrorism is expensive business, Arafat costs the EU about 25 million bucks a month. When you pay that kinda money for a guy, it hurts to have him offline...
Indeed. But such gang-like rivalry is an opportunity in and by itself to strike a blow at competing terrorist movements.
And given the tight grip of Fatah over every aspect of Palestinian life, I would'nt be too surprised if a sizeable part of the Palestinian population would be happy to get ridden of the parasitical "Liberation Fronts" that all but maintain them in their current dire situation.
SHUT UP EU
I can't wait till that Terrorist SOB finally kick the bucket Yonif
He is number one on my dead pool
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