Abu Mazen threatens to quit after row with Arafat

Jerusalem Post ^ | 4/19/03 | By KHALED ABU TOAMEH

[Bessellieu]

Apr. 19, 2003 Abu Mazen threatens to quit after row with Arafat By KHALED ABU TOAMEH.

A drama was underway in Ramallah Saturday night after Palestinian prime minister-designate Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) stormed out of a meeting of Fatah's central council to announce that he was quitting.

The meeting, chaired by Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat, was held to discuss the composition of the new Palestinian cabinet. This is the second time in the past week that Abbas and Arafat have clashed over the new cabinet.

Palestinian sources said the latest row erupted when Arafat announced that he planned to retain control over the Palestinian security forces. According to senior Palestinian officials, Arafat told Abbas that he remains opposed to giving the security portfolio in the new cabinet to former security chief Mohammed Dahlan.

At the stormy meeting, some Fatah officials also accused Abbas of seeking to marginalize the organization's role in the new cabinet.

"There's a very serious crisis," said one official. "Abbas has said that he isn't interested in the job of prime minister."

It was unclear if Abbas's decision is final. Several Palestinian officials were trying Saturday night to talk Abbas into meeting with Arafat to solve the crisis.

A source close to Abbas told The Jerusalem Post: "Arafat is placing too many obstacles that make it impossible to form an independent cabinet. He wants to remain in charge of everything. That's why Abbas doesn't feel that he can accomplish his job successfully."

[secretagent]

How about all the innocent Israelis that have been killed over the last 2 1/2 years???

I did a Google and found this:

"We strongly condemn all attacks targeting civilians from both sides, and especially the attack that took place against Israeli citizens yesterday in Jerusalem," said Arafat's statement, which was read out by announcers on Palestinian radio and television.

Source: http://www.news-star.com/stories/041402/New_59.shtml

I don't know how consistently he has condemned suicide/homicide bombings of civilians, however.

[Ramius]

I don't know how consistently he has condemned suicide/homicide bombings of civilians, however.

Umm... you're kidding, right? Arafat *sends* the suicide bombers to blow up children on buses. He *funds* them. He *trains* them. But you knew that, right? I will just have to trust that you are actually paying attention to current events.

[Bessellieu]

"We strongly condemn all attacks targeting civilians from both sides, and especially the attack that took place against Israeli citizens yesterday in Jerusalem," said Arafat's statement, which was read out by announcers on Palestinian radio and television."

Always important to remember, Actions speak louder then words...