Cheney said Israel can 'hang' Arafat: Israeli minister

AFP ^ | 2/8/02

[truthandlife]

Defence Minister Binyamin Ben Eliezer said US Vice President Dick Cheney told him that Israel could "hang" Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat as far as he was concerned, Yediot Aharonot reported on Friday.

"The vice president told me: 'As far as I am concerned, you can even hang him,'" Ben Eliezer told the mass circulation paper, adding that he heard similar comments from advisers of US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

"On this subject (of Arafat), Cheney is more extreme than Revaham Zeevi," he said, referring to Israel's far-right tourism minister who was assassinated by Palestinian radicals in October.

Ben Eliezer said yesterday after talks in Washington with Cheney, Rumsfeld and US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice that he had called upon Washington to boycott Arafat and to open a dialogue with other Palestinian leaders.

Rice and Cheney told him that talking to Arafat is "a waste of time" and the vice president was the most extreme on this point, he told a press conference in the US capital.

[truthandlife]

In related story:

Cheney's Mideast Trip Humiliates Powell, Arafat (Signaling a step toward military force?)

[truthandlife]

The story showed up on the Hindustan Times but it is an AFP (AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE)story.

I trust AFP more than I do Reuters or AP.

[a_witness]

Defence Minister Binyamin Ben Eliezer said US Vice President Dick Cheney told him that Israel could "hang" Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat as far as he was concerned, Yediot Aharonot reported on Friday.

Oh what will the EU say ?

They really, really, really, wish someone else was in our WH. They are not our friends.

[RGSpincich]

Defence Minister Binyamin Ben Eliezer has a big mouth.

[modern_orthodox]

I dunno if its propoganda - its definitely Cheany's style. Blunt, to the point, and effective.

[Dog Gone]

I sincerely doubt that Cheney said such a thing.

[truthandlife]

I have been looking for the story on the AFP website and cannot find it. It would be interesting if AFP really did write this story. Maybe it was made up to intensify hatred for Cheney and the U.S. when he visits the Middle East next week.

[mmmmmmmm....... donuts]

This is true. You will notice, for example, that Sharon doesn't pull such stunts, he is very careful not to be revealing private conversations with foreign leaders. Ben-Eliezer is starting to become more high-profile in Israeli politics, and I have to say, so far I'm unimpressed.

[weikel]

Why should we protect that terrorist Arafat.

[gaspar]

You can't be serious! I would trust Dan Rather before I would put my trust in Agence France Press. It has an agenda slightly to the left of Mother Jones.

[Kermit]

"On this subject (of Arafat), Cheney is more extreme than Revaham Zeevi,"

Ah, I think you'll find about 80% of Americans agreeing with Cheney. That makes his opinion mainstream, not extreme. It's the extremists, who consider Arafat a 'partner for peace'. The only peace Arafat offers, is that of the grave, graves of Israelis and Americans.

[veronica]

Not only do I believe Zinni called Arafat a Mafioso, the Canadian National Post reported that Zinni is dead-set against international observers.

It is well-known that Cheney, Rummy and Condie have no use for Arafat.

[veronica]

These things do have a way of slipping out:: Powell: Arafat Has Lost Touch With Reality

[veryconernedamerican]

Finally some one from our government calling Arafatty like they see him. terrorist through and through. This wasn't for public consumtion but this is what most in America think of the short fat pud.

[Angelique]

Whatever Cheney says is always with careful consideration. If the comment is true, it was not stated with cavalier disregard of the consequences.

[modern_orthodox]

cheany may not be "into" style, but he does have a certain pattern in the way he does things. usually, that involves calling it as he sees it in very direct, simple, language. if he thinks israel should just kill arafat and be done with it, there's no reason to think he wouldn't say so.