[polemikos]

Arafat's opposition to the ministerial list was likely to disappoint Washington

Now there's an understatement!

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[river rat]

Kill Arafat now

Semper Fi

[DonQ]

Arafat chose a Prime Minister under intense pressure (mostly from the US) that he no longer dominate the PA government (having him yield some of his power was probably considered in tandem with a proposal about making him yield up his pulse). But, as with other Arafat accomplishments, it was simply illusion and Arafat still micromanages everything.

[Cicero]

I believe Bush's intentions are honorable, but this whole Road Map business is nothing but the same craziness under a new name. It will reward the Palestinians for empty promises while holding Israel to real deeds. It will raise expectations, and it will disappoint them. Although it is intended to placate the Arabs, it will end by enraging them. It will convince some Arabs that we are weak, and others that we are conspiring against them. That has been the story of the peace process for the past forty years.

[EGPWS]

There was no immediate comment from Abu Mazen, who has largely refrained from speaking to the media since being tapped last month to become prime minister at the urging of international peace brokers who soured on Arafat.

I'm floored, totally in shock from this news!/sarcasm

[joesnuffy]

Yeah...WHY is this POS still breathing air...instead of sand

[tomahawk]

Kill Arafat now.

For the sake of the Arabs living in Israel's liberated territories (known as "Palestinians").

[Paul_B]

Watch your back and your kneecaps, Abbas.

But you knew you were in an impossible position, didn't you.

[witnesstothefall]

I can't accept that George Bush believes a new Palestinian sovereign state on the borders of Israel will bring peace or stability. It will only ensure a wider war. Settlement ultimately resides in transfer. The belligerents will never live peacefully side-by-side, never.

[yonif]

I reject both these individuals.

[SoulStorms]

The pattern is: Israel hints at a concession. The world gears up for diplomacy aimed at a "Mideast Peace". The negotiations get down to a couple of vital issues (now one less without the settlements issue). Then...

Waves of Hamas killers vaporize a few busloads of Israeli innocents, making any discussion of "peace" a moot one.

The sequence has become as trite as Tom Daschle's "concern". Will a "roadmap" make any difference?

[Tailgunner Joe]

[thatdewd]

Hello, Washington? Reality Check: It's Arafat's cabinet. He picked Abbas, and he's picking the cabinet. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

[phothus]

This is the struggle to be watching. Arafat's problem is going to be that the official controls are shifting out of his hands. At that point, his legitimacy will be even more comprimised. If he can tailspin and ruin the whole process, he might stick around... but I'm not so sure he can do that... there might be some hope for the Palestinians yet.