So far, three Palestinian figures including the Palestinian National Authority President Yasser Arafat announced determination to nominate themselves for the presidential elections due to be held in January 2003. The Palestinian Authority, however, has announced that legislative and presidential elections will be held in the Palestinian self- rule areas in January, just seven years from the first Palestinian legislative and presidential elections which took place in 1996. Both Washington and Israel want a Palestinian authority which is able to "control" the security situation first. This means to prevent operations against Israel. Also both Israel and the US consider that Arafat,...