Palestinian PM Resigns Amid Shakeup

[CHIMO]

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) - The Palestinian prime minister resigned Saturday in a sweeping leadership shakeup that also saw two senior officials replaced in Yasser Arafat's overhaul of his security forces - a key U.S. and Israeli demand for restarting the deadlocked peace process.

``There is a crisis. There is a state of chaos in the security situation,'' Ahmed Qureia said after announcing his resignation as premier during a Cabinet meeting in the West Bank town of Ramallah.

Qureia sent his resignation letter to Arafat through an aide before the Cabinet meeting. The 74-year-old Palestinian leader, however, refused to accept it and scrawled a giant ``X'' over the paper with a pen, a Palestinian official said.

Nevertheless, Qureia said he would not withdraw the resignation, according to Minister of Local Government Jamal Shobaki.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4323028,00.html?gusrc=ticker-103704

[oldhat]

1. Shit

I was pretty sure this was going to happen soon but this situation is going to get real ugly, real quick.

Hello, Colin Powell? Where the fuck are you?

Edit: There was a good interview with James Zogby on BBC Radio today about what exactly is going on in Palestine right now. I'm trying to find the link. If anyone has a link, please post it.

[Norquist Nemesis]

2. Not good. Not good at all. n/t

[wellst0nev0ter]

3. So, What Other Strongman Do They Have

To divide and weaken the Palestinian leadership?