[anapikoros]

Unfortunately, there may well be another explanation for Arafat's behavior: he has not given up on destroying Israel, but sees a state as a hindrance to that goal.

No "may" about it - it IS the explanation because Arafat wants to go down in the history books as a "revolutionary" not a peace maker.

[Asclepius]

... "In our hands they left / a sardine can called Gaza / and a dry bone called Jericho / ...they gave us a homeland smaller than a single grain of wheat / a homeland to swallow without water like aspirin pills ... "

The most popular poet in the Arab world?

I would make a snide remark. But we have our share of wretched poets too.

[Shermy]

Well, he has threatened to declare a state in the past, gave deadlines, and never came thru. I think that's because by declaring a state he would have to declare its borders - limiting the end of his struggle.

[Light Speed]

I keep picturing Arafat holding a silver gun to his head while standing in a window looking at a dozen Israeli Apache helicopter gunships pointed His direction...on the ground is about 30 Merkava 3's and Magach 7 main battle tanks which have closed to within 50 yards..with about 200 troops pointing their Car-15's at his window.
The Bible just says in Zechariah chap 9..."Gaza will writhe in agony....Gaza will loose its King"
I've reflected on these verses..and said.."Lord thats kinda flat..kinda unspectacular for a mass murderer to go bye ,bye"
The Lord replies..."Not to be concerned..My Imagination is better than yours"!

[Bush2000]

Since Arafat's op-ed appeared, in which he once again pledged to "put an end" to terrorism, a suicide bomber was intercepted on a bus, Kassam missiles were captured on their way to Jenin, and a terrorist shot his way into a home in Moshav Hamra and murdered a mother and her 11-year-old handicapped daughter, as well as killing a soldier.

The Mossaud secretly recorded Arafat's telephone conversations and speeches to Hamas and other Islamic groups over a period of months. There was a single theme running through them: Arafat said his strategy was to take whatever land he could by peace -- and then get the rest by force. He's a lying, no-good sack of sh*t. He doesn't want peace. His overtures are meaningless.