[Dog Gone]

I have no doubt that Cheney has no use for Arafat. But the Israeli press has a track record of attributing quotes to American officials which they subsequently deny having made.

Cheney would not support an actual hanging of Arafat by the Israelis, so I don't think he'd make such a remark to an Israeli official, especially one with a history of being a loose cannon.

Let's be honest here. There are a sizeable number of Israelis who would love to see the USA intervene militarily on behalf of Israel in crushing the various terrorist groups that threaten it. Inciting the Palestinians against America could hasten that action, and reports like this are helpful to that effort.

[veronica]

I don't agree. These things are said and they sometimes leak out. The Powell comment leaked out of a meeting with the Germans.

To say nothing of the fact that some Arab officials (Saudis especially) leak everything that they talk to the administration about, some of it not true, and Ari has had to wiggle out a few sticky wickets as a result.

[College Repub]

It will be interesting to see what, if any, response Ben Eliezer has to this. If he (Ben Eliezer) never said such a thing, he should come out and say that. It wouldn't surprise me if Cheny DID say that but I can't for the life of me understand why Ben Eliezer would relay that to Israeli press. Unless this is all part of an approved plan and he got permission to say that by Cheny to scare the arabs (plausible situation I suppose). Same thing goes for Zinni Mafia comment...