War-weary Palestinians losing faith in Arafat's leadership (Guardian U.K.)

The Guardian (U.K.) ^ | 5 May 2002 | Graham Usher

[newwahoo]

"If there is to be armed resistance, it must be against soldiers and settlers in the occupied territories. We must stop all attacks against civilians in Israel."

Considering the "settlers" are civilians themsleves, they haven't learned nearly enough. I guess to her deliberately shooting 5-year old girls hiding under a bed is an act of Islamic heroism.

[Restorer]

Last week Arafat, his guards and entourage of several hundred were finally released from their siege by Israeli forces.

Boy, I get tired of hearing this called a siege. A siege is an attempt to destroy or capture an objective. The Israelis obviously had the capability to capture or kill Arafat at any time. That they chose not to was their decision, not due to any resistance by the Palestinians.

[MissAmericanPie]

I'm sure many felt he sold out six "heros" that slaughtered the Minister of Tourism, so he could find a clean bathroom. He was a raving idiot by the time he was released.

[goldstategop]

Arafat is a coward as well as a liar, a cheat, a pervert, and a mass murderer. He's willing to have others die for him, but when push comes to shove, he's been unwilling to sacrifice his life for his aims. So much for his boast of being a "shahid." The point is he is far from being an honorable person. Even his own people are losing faith in him, this according to the not usually pro-Israel British press. So why does President Bush and Secretary Powell continue to insist Israel must negotiate with him? Why can't they encourage the Palestinians to choose a true pro-peace leadership? After 10 years of failed Oslo, you'd think the Western chancelleries and foreign offices would have gotten the message. Its time for President Bush to declare Arafat's day is over and that its time for a new generation to lead the Palestinians to peace. With firm leadership, President Bush can make it happen, but not if he follows Colon Bowell's lead to support the world's last unreconstructed terrorist.

[liberalism=failure]

And the moral of the story is--

Crushing the terrorists works

Appeasing them doesn't

[D-fendr]

Oh, I'm not so sure that would be wise.

Bush slamming Arafat would increase Arafat's stock with his constituents.

This deal Bush approved, on the other hand, has truly hurt Yasser. Perhaps a bit more and his own people will dispose of him.

A much wiser strategy I believe.

[D-fendr]

"Bush and Powell are both now directly responsible for the next civilians to be killed in Israel."

A tad overwrought I'd say.

"He even tried negotiating with the Taliban."

Not an example Arafat would like you to use.

[ClancyJ]

Bush and Powell are both now directly responsible for the next civilians to be killed in Israel

I think the Palestinians will be responsible for the next civilians killed in Israel.

Why do you continue to try and make Bush the enemy in this when he is not even one of the participants in battle. He is trying to resolve things - same as all other presidents have. He does not have the bombs, he does not shoot - he only tries to find a way for BOTH SIDES to accept peace.

Oh, and also Bush does not get to chose who he has to negotiate with. He negotiates and tries to find peace with the ones fighting. It would be really nice if all the bad people in the world fit our criteria so that we could deal with them. However, we are trying to clear the world of terrorists and to do so we will have to deal with the people in this world - good, bad, indifferent if they are involved.

[Wild Irish Rogue]

Which camps was the IDF unable to enter? Name one.

[Wild Irish Rogue]

But you are the one saying that Bush has prevented Isreal from defending herself-please elaborate!

[Wild Irish Rogue]

What are you talking about!! Isreal did what they needed to do and nobody could stop them,not the UN,not the EU, not Bush(he never intended to). If they need to go back in, they will and everybody accepts that.

[ThePythonicCow]

They said they needed 8 weeks and I took them at their word.

Maybe they managed to get done a little sooner than planned. You're trying to get from "they said they needed 8 weeks" to "since they left most places sooner, they must not have finished." That sounds like unpersuasive playing with words to my ears.

But maybe my ears are offtune.

[Wild Irish Rogue]

You said in Post#11, that Isreal knew where bomb making factories were and the players involved, but they left without completing the job.Can you cite your source for this? You insult Ariel Sharon and the fine men and women of the IDF, by insinuating that they would leave a bomb making factory in place.Sharon is an old bull and a veteran of many campaigns and he is not going to leave PLO bomb making factories intact.These are the same people who took out Iraq's nuclear reactor, when they see a threat, they take care of it. Never underestimate the Israelis.

[Kay Soze]

Yes Sharon did win.

The homicide bombings diminished in frequency.

Sharon was also able to further expose the EU and UN for what they truly are as well.

Sharon has exposed Kofi as having direct knowledge of a UNWRA UN funded refugee camp being allowed to be used as a safe haven for arms and terrorist training, making Kofi a war criminal.

The now clearly debunked claims of a massacre in Jenin will diminish the credence lent to claims of a massacre in Deir Yassin.

Even the pretext for the last 18 months of homicide bombings has been revealed as a fraud.

Sharon's visit to the Temple Mount was approved in advance by Jibril Rajoub, the head of the Palestinian Authority's Preventive Security service. Rajoub even stated there would be no reaction.

While the PLO seizing perhaps the most sacred Christian site could be made a big deal worthy of a huge amount of violence directed at the Arab people.

Sharon won big, bigger than we currently know.