Posted on 05/03/2002 7:36:05 AM PDT by thatcher
Whisper of betrayal as Arafat is shunned
By Alan Philps in Ramallah
(Filed: 03/05/2002)
YASSER ARAFAT, the Palestinian leader, emerged from a month of captivity to make a victory tour of Ramallah yesterday. But it was shunned by most of the populace, amid whispers of betrayal.
A small crowd of supporters joined him - only enough to fill the viewfinder of a television camera. There was no joy on the streets to celebrate the departure of the Israeli army after five months in the north of the city. Schoolchildren filled the gap left by volunteers.
The cause of the muttering among Palestinians was the agreement under which Mr Arafat ended the siege of his compound in return for handing over six Palestinian militants wanted by Israel into British-supervised custody.
"Arafat paid a very high price for his freedom," said one shopkeeper.
"The Israelis lifted the closure around his compound, but it remains imposed on all the Palestinians. We cannot move anywhere outside of town. It is an incomplete achievement."
According to British officials, the deal gives Mr Arafat his freedom of movement, including foreign travel and return. But the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, was quick to give warning that he would not guarantee his return if he stepped outside the Palestinian territories.
Mr Arafat began his victory tour by visiting the Sheikh Zayed hospital and praying over a mass grave in the car park where 16 people who died during the Israeli re-occupation are buried.
He moved on to the Education Ministry to see the damage done by the army. All the computer hard disks have been removed, as well as the files and records of the past seven years' exam results.
The Palestinian leader was in an aggressive mood to deflect questions about the deal he worked out to end the siege and what he would do next.
When reporters rushed into his compound after the last Israeli tank left, he ordered them: "Go away and investigate what is happening in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem."
Ten peace activists - including Georgina Reeves, a Briton who lives in the Palestinian territories and is organiser of the International Solidarity Movement - slipped into the besieged church after colleagues created a diversion to distract Israeli soldiers.
The activists took food into the church, where about 180 Palestinian gunmen, as well as priests, monks, nuns and other civilians have been trapped for a month.
To Palestinians Mr Arafat is guilty of taking part in a deal under which six men who are seen as heroes and freedom-fighters are imprisoned in a Palestinian jail under the eyes of British and American monitors.
The attraction from Israel's point of view is that a United Nations investigation into the Israeli army assault on the Jenin refugee camp will be quietly forgotten. After Israel raised objections to the fact-finding team its 20 members, who have been waiting in Geneva for almost a week, were going home yesterday.
Abla Saadat, wife of Ahmed Saadat, the head of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine who is detained in the Jericho prison, said the ditching of the Jenin inquiry was a betrayal. "It is not just me who thinks so. Ninety per cent of the Palestinians, even some people around Arafat think so," she told reporters.
Mrs Saadat put into words the despair of the Palestinians after 19 months of violence. For all Mr Arafat's promises of victory, the Israeli iron fist has left city centres in ruins, broken the lives of thousands and ripped the guts out of the Palestinian administration, just like the Education Ministry computers.
"For 50 years Israel never brought us to despair. But seven years of Palestinian rule has brought us to the brink," she said. "Did we achieve a victory? Did we end the occupation? Only from around Arafat's compound."
The same negative sentiments were aired for hours on Al-Jazeera, the Arabic satellite news channel, though speakers were asked not to use the word "treachery".
The message is clear: Mr Arafat was a hero under siege. He began to lose this status as soon as the tanks withdrew from his compound.
Television interviews by candle light are Mr Arafat's forte. But slogans will not rebuild the damage to Palestinian homes, offices and infrastructure - estimated at £240 million over the past month - and there are ever louder demands for a change in leadership style.
Palestinians still talk of an intifada, or uprising, but it has dawned on them that times have changed.
Capped off by Brit Hume: "We report; You decide", with tongue planted firmly in cheek.
Thats a near certainty! Can't recall an Islamic/Mid East government changing leadership other than via assassination/takeover, or death of the strongman, who is then replaced by his son.
The butt-kicking lesson the Israeli's dealt - after an amazing display of restraint, was mostly visited on people who will have no say in Arafat's replacement. I doubt this coming change of leadership will improve their life much. Hope I'm wrong.
Ever done a triple???;^)
I think my record is 4.........
Could it be that we actually knew what we were doing here?
Why do Palestinians talk of an intifada? What do they get out of an intifada?
Boo,hoo! Now the Pali's won't be able to see who scored highest in the advanced bomb making and other standard curriculum classes.
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| "Hello? Hello? Is this Psychic Friends Network? I could use a friend..." |
"Yassir! How the heck are you!! This is Colin Powell here. How 'bout if a few of my buddies drop by?" |
I wonder if (and hope that) this sentiment is the result of some psych-op.
If this spreads, there may finally be some peace in the area.
Re-occupation???. Huh??? How can you re-occupy something I been told endlessly in already occupied.
The fact the his support is drying up is good news nearly any way you slice it. If it dried up because the Pallies feel betryed; great. If it dries up because the Pallies are sick of having a brutal dictactor ignore the needs of "his" people; great. Either way AraRatboy is marginalized and hopefully the normal pallies that just want to live a normal life will rise up and send him to allah.
Are you talkin' about when he was SUCKING UP to Arafat?? I couldn't believe that!
I even wrote an e-mail to Sean Hannity that I now have more respect for Greta van Sustern Facelift than Geraldo.....
......and I can't stand her.
God bless men of courage like Sharon and Bibi.
I think this a normal response to any one that lives under a totalitarian regime. Arafat is nothing more than a dictator with great PR. Since being elected as the "president" of the PA he has only used his position to further his sick hatred of Zionism. He has never been interested in leading "his" people. It seems they are finally figuring it out.
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