Palestinian Prime Minister is part of a US conspiracy, says Hamas

The Jerusalem Post ^ | 11 March 2003 | KHALED ABU TOAMEH

[anotherview]

Mar. 11, 2003
Palestinian PM is part of a US conspiracy, says Hamas
By KHALED ABU TOAMEH

Yasser Arafat's decision to appoint a prime minister for the Palestinian Authority is in the context of an American scheme aimed at ending the intifada and imposing the road map plan on the Palestinian people, according to a statement issued by Hamas on Tuesday.

"It's unfortunate that the institutions of the PLO and the PA are hostage to American-Zionist pressure," the statement added, reflecting the view of Palestinian hardliners who have strongly criticized Arafat for succumbing to pressure from Israel and the US.

With the exception of Arafat's mainstream Fatah movement, all the Palestinian political factions have expressed their opposition to the decision to appoint a prime minister. However, none of them have attacked the intended appointee, Mahmoud Abbas, or questioned his merits.

In addition to Hamas, the Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine have also issued statements accusing Arafat of cringing before US President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Even some elements in Fatah have come out against the appointment mainly because of Abbas's calls for stopping terror attacks inside Israel.

At Saturday's closed meeting of the PLO central council in Ramallah, which ahs held to endorse Arafat's decision, PFLP officials ridiculed the nomination. At one point, when one of them described the Palestinian Authority as a "swamp of corruption," an enraged Arafat shouted back, "What other choice did I have? They [the Quartet members] put a lot of pressure on me."

The position of Hamas is of particular significance because it is the second largest Palestinian group after Fatah. Hamas's popularity in the impoverished Gaza Strip, where more than a million people live in difficult conditions, is believed to be larger than that of Fatah. Leaders of the radical Islamic group said they would not cooperate with a prime minister "who is imposed on the Palestinians by Bush and Sharon."

Hamas is opposed not only to the idea of creating the premier post, but also to Abbas in person. The group is angry with him because of his remarks against the "militarizing" of the intifada. Abbas has repeatedly urged the Palestinian factions to reconsider their strategy of using firearms in the intifada, explaining that the suicide bombings have caused grave damage to the Palestinian issue.

Hamas spokesmen in the Gaza Strip believe there is a direct connection between the assassination of Ibrahim al Makadmeh, a top Hamas official, and the appointment of Abbas. Makadmeh, the argue, was killed just as more than 100 PLO officials were preparing to meet in Ramallah Saturday to approve Arafat's appointment.

"Arafat and his friends were sitting in Ramallah, drinking, eating and exchanging jokes while Israeli helicopters were firing their missiles at Makadmeh's car in Gaza City," a Hamas official told The Jerusalem Post. "What does this show? It shows that Arafat is part of the conspiracy to eliminate Hamas. The Americans have forced him to appoint Abbas with the hope that the new prime minister would fight against what they call terror. But Abbas can't do anything against Hamas because we represent the majority of Palestinians who don't accept dictates from Washington and Tel Aviv. If Abbas tries to implement this scheme, he will be condemned as the Palestinian [Afghanistan President Hamid] Karzai."

Meanwhile, the chairman of the legal committee in the Palestinian legislative Council, Abdel Karim Abu Salah, told the Post Tuesday that amended draft resolution regarding the position of prime minister was now in the hands of Arafat, who is expected to endorse it.

He said the powers of the new prime minister would be limited to dealing with internal affairs, such as maintaining public order. With regards to foreign policy and security, Abdel Karim said these are in the authority of the PLO and Abbas would not be able to have a say in these matters as prime minister.

Critics said the draft law that was presented to Arafat implies that the Palestinian political system is going to look like those in Egypt and Jordan, where the president and the king have the final say on crucial matters.

Abbas is expected to begin consultations later this week to form a new cabinet. Sources close to him said he plans to replace most of the incumbent ministers. But according to an understanding he has reached with Arafat, he would still need the Palestinians leader's approval for every new face he brings into the cabinet.

[anotherview]

Yes, they want a continuation of the intifada and, ultimately, to destroy Israel. Isn't that painfully obvious to everyone yet?

[Lijahsbubbe]

Hoo hoo. I've been waiting for this. Let's see what this turns into.

Your chicken is coming home to roost, Arafat.

[sheik yerbouty]

scorpions in a bottle.