Arafat and Abbas reach agreement to end internal PA crisis

AP / The Jerusalem Post ^ | 15 July 2003 | The Associated Press

[anotherview]

Arafat and Abbas reach agreement to end internal PA crisis
The Associated Press
Jul. 15, 2003

Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat and Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, settled their differences in a meeting in Arafat's office in the West Bank town of Ramallah on Monday, Palestinian officials said.

The two have been at odds since the three main Palestinian groups declared a temporary halt in attacks against Israelis. The Palestinians followed that with a demand on Israel to release the estimated 7,000 prisoners it is holding, but Israel has offered to free only a few hundred.

Critics in the Fatah, headed by Arafat, criticized Abbas, saying he was too soft on the Israelis.

Palestinian legislator Saeb Erekat said he and parliament speaker Ahmed Qureia arranged the Monday peacemaking session, and the differences were resolved. Erekat said that the Palestinian leadership council, which includes PLO heads and is controlled by Arafat, would continue to have the final say over contacts with Israel, underlining that Abbas is not a free agent in his dealings with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

Also, Palestinian Information Minister Nabil Amr said he would act as a liaison between Arafat and Abbas. Israel and the United States are boycotting Arafat, charging that he is involved in terrorism, preferring to deal with Abbas instead.

[anotherview]

So, Abbas agrees Arafat is in charge. To me that means the Roadmap to Peace was really a dead end. Of course, I don't expect the U.S. administration or the pro-Palestinians who lead the European Union or the U.N. to see it that way. They will always find a way to blame Israel.

I wonder how much longer Prime Minister Sharon will go along with the charade if the PA doesn't finally move to live up to it's commitments.

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[Pukin Dog]

You need another view, anotherview.

You could have decided that Arafat would rather agree with Abbas than be dragged out of the region by Sharon? It could be that he was paying attention to the threats made last weekend.

[Parley Baer]

My opinion is if Arafat screwed this up that would be the end on him and he knows it. Parley

[anotherview]

You think so? I don't. I think Arafat will agree to make peace with Israel the day pigs fly, and they'll be kosher pigs at that.

Go back to the archives and read Brit Hume's interview of Dennis Ross. For that matter, read what President Clinton had to say about Arafat after he left office.

[Queen of Excelsior]

I'll read Brit Hume's interview but I don't give a flying fig about anything Clinton may gave said.

[El Gato]

So, Abbas agrees Arafat is in charge. Assuming the disaggreement was real, which I doubt, it was either that or wake up dead, or worse wake to find your wife and kids dead. (These guys don't mind sending other people's kids to blow themselves up, but you don't see any of their children doing it, many of them aren't even "in country".)

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

What has Clinton ever said that had any relevence to anyone other than Clinton. Source credibility = 0.00.

[American in Israel]

I agree, now that Arafat has changed out the Hamas leaders with hardliners that answer only to him, what good is Abbas?

Pretty much Abbas must agree or Arafat will pull the trigger on the gun pressed in Abbas ear.

[DannyTN]

"I don't. I think Arafat will agree to make peace with Israel the day pigs fly, and they'll be kosher pigs at that. "

Couldn't find a kosher flying pig, that bodes poorly for peace.

[Fledermaus]

The only way for the PA to make progress is to get rid of Arafat. He's a pimple on the ass of the world.

Israel should just take him out.

Did you see the "Palestinians" attacking the office of the guy that produce that poll they didn't like?

I'd say you can't have a real country with that many stupid citizens but I live in the U.S. and we have Democrats.

Go figure.

[anotherview]

LOL. Very good. Thank you!

[anotherview]

I recognize the venom that many feel toward former President Clinton. However, no President is all bad or all good. I criticize President Bush when he deserves it, and I praise President Clinton when he deserves it. You can guess at how often that is and probably get it right. The fact remains that President Clinton publicly blamed the failure of the Oslo peace process on one Yasser Arafat, and in that case he was right. Very few from either political party have the courage to place blame that directly and not hedge it in oh-so-sanitized diplomatic terms.

[SJackson]

Dennis Ross on Fox News Sunday (What Arafat Turned Down)

If you disparage Ross’s opinion because he worked for Clinton, at least be consistant and disparage the administrations of George Bush Sr and Ronald Reagan, because he worked for all of them.

[El Gato]

However, no President is all bad or all good

Oh I don't know, I think Clinton, and her husband, are all bad. That doesn't preclude them occasionally making a correct statement however. Even a blind pig finds an acorn, now and again, and a stopped clock is correct twice a day.