Don't touch Yasser Arafat

[IndianaGreen]

Don't touch Yasser Arafat, By Naomi Chazan

ISRAEL CANNOT continue to perpetuate this confusion for much longer. Either the Palestinian leadership is in charge, and therefore accountable for its actions, or it is not, and cannot consequently be blamed for any wrongdoing. Should Yasser Arafat be expelled, the onus of governing the Palestinian territories would fall entirely on Israel. So, too, would responsibility for the security and well being of the entire population of the area.

Put succinctly, the exile of Yasser Arafat would create a power vacuum and generate untold anarchy in an already chaotic situation. Israel would have to step in to breach this gap against the will of the majority of Israelis, who view disengagement from the territories as an imperative for survival. The human, material, and moral costs of such a move would be prohibitive.

Israel would also pay an enormous international price. A peripatetic Arafat, fortified by the new title of leader-in-exile, would be received when he knocked on the doors of world leaders. Wherever he is, he would continue to dominate developments on the ground. He did so before 1994; he will continue to do so in the future.

An Israel seeking revenge through the extradition of Arafat could expect only global censure, opprobrium, and eventually, isolation.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/A/JPArticle/PrinterFull&cid=1063266359847

[DuctapeFatwa]

1. I think the point Israel is making is that they don't care

Except for the US, they are essentially isolated, a rogue, pariah "state" in the perception of the world, any formal recognition is just more detritus proceeding from being the fat mangy guard dog of the US.

If Israel wants to murder Arafat, or me, or you, for that matter, they can be sure that the US will supply the bullet or arsenic or blowtorch or knife, and if Sharon wants to roast and eat Palestinian babies on live TV, they can count on the US sending over several bags of charcoal and a CNN crew after issuing a press release calling the cookout "unhelpful."

Both Israel and the US have on several occasions stated their intentions to murder anyone, anywhere, any time that they choose.

The ball is clearly in the court of the rest of the world.

[dfong63]

2. who else thinks this is just for show?

let's think about this. Sharon could have easily eliminated Arafat any time in the last few years, if he'd wanted to. he's demonstrated time and time again that he doesn't give a rat's ass what the US thinks of him. he's just gonna do what he's gonna do. yet he hasn't dropped the hammer on Arafat. why not? because he (Sharon) felt Arafat might be useful.

these trial balloons on killing Arafat keep coming up. why? if Sharon really wanted Arafat dead, he'd just do it, instead of talking about it.

and why now? imho Sharon is doing this either (a) to shore up his support from his own right wing; or (b) to boost Arafat's support among Palestinians, which (not surprisingly) skyrockets whenever he's under siege. if (b) is correct, it's a signal that Sharon intends to bring Arafat back as a possible player in the negotiations. Arafat is essentially a living martyr, a "hero", and is thus in a unique position among Palestinians, to be able to "sell" (out) his people with a deal that is more-favorable to Israel.

[Shanty Oilish]

3. Arafat's charisma

Many years ago I had an Arabic tutor who knew Arafat. He was always going on about Arafat as the face of Palestine, the soul of Palestine, his dedication, his noble mission. When you call Arafat a living martyr, unique---you are not exaggerating. If something happens to Arafat, all hell will break loose.

[Gimel]

4. they are essentially isolated,

they are essentially isolated, a rogue, pariah "state" in the perception of the world

If this were true, Israel wouldn't have so many detractors. It is because Israel has risen to a position of power and respect that many are fascinated, and to the cynical, has become an object of contempt.

The historic peace agreements with Egypt and Jordan, as well as developments and contributions in the fields of agriculture, science and medicine, have earned respect as well.

The EU has set a pre-condition for Iran - recognition of Israel.

http://www.payvand.com/news/02/sep/1058.html

[DuctapeFatwa]

5. Their power is from US-bought guns, Israel chose that over respect

On its own, Israel has no power. Israel has a Sugar Daddy with some big guns, some of which are in Israel.

Respect is something both the US and Israel have chosen to forfeit in favor of the kind of fear people in a bank have of the guy with a snarling pit bull and a gun.

They will get on the floor when he says to, and give him the money, but not because they respect him or the pit bull, or want him to be rich.

And sooner or later, he will get caught and his gun and his dog will be taken away.

[Gimel]

6. Money is not the issue

Clearly, the Saudis have plenty of it. Those with money speak with two faces. The Palestinians could be rich too, but they have given the banker another task, one of terror.

[DuctapeFatwa]

7. I think you misunderstood my analogy

You are correct that money is not the issue, aside from its usefulness in purchasing guns and favors.

My point is that the world does not respect the US or Israel.

Any concessions that are made to either are made out of greed, the kind of loathing fear people have of violent criminals, or both.

[Gimel]

8. You made your point

I don't agree. If you can prove your point, that would make a difference.

You comment that Israel chose US guns over respect. No analogy could be clearer. However, it's not Israel that has the world by the balls, it's the Islamic Jihad movement.

[DuctapeFatwa]

10. Islamic Jihad is a symptom, and an irrelevant and superfluous one at that

It is true that all the guns and bombs and money that the oilngun cartel can pile up in Israel or unleash against poor countries are not only ineffective, but counter-productive against one individual person who has nothing to lose.

Multiply that person by several million and you can see that Islamic Jihad is not necessary.

As we see in Iraq, no matter how many children the Crusaders dismember, no matter how many grandfathers are blown to bits in front of their families, no matter how many doors are kicked in, how many people are robbed, beaten and humiliated, they just can't seem to eradicate anti-American sentiment.

Similarly, no matter what horrors and atrocities and crimes against humanity Israel visits upon the Palestinian people, they have been unsucessful in generating enthusiasm for the occupation, and it is frankly difficult to find a Palestinian who sincerely believes that he is either the property or the slave of a gaggle of Russian immigrants with a taste for fine weapons systems.

Meanwhile, on the streets of the US and Israel, are increasing numbers of hungry citizens, whose opinion of both regimes is moving ever closer to that of the fabled "Islamic Jihad."

[Equinox]

14. Stop it! You're killing me over here! LMAO....

Similarly, no matter what horrors and atrocities and crimes against humanity Israel visits upon the Palestinian people, they have been unsucessful in generating enthusiasm for the occupation, and it is frankly difficult to find a Palestinian who sincerely believes that he is either the property or the slave of a gaggle of Russian immigrants with a taste for fine weapons systems.

Too funny.....

[Equinox]

13. DTF!!!! LMAO....

If Israel wants to murder Arafat, or me, or you, for that matter, they can be sure that the US will supply the bullet or arsenic or blowtorch or knife, and if Sharon wants to roast and eat Palestinian babies on live TV, they can count on the US sending over several bags of charcoal and a CNN crew after issuing a press release calling the cookout "unhelpful."


That is about one of the best/funniest statements I've heard since being here.

[Gimel]

15. The US just stopped Israel

You can see the thread about it or read this article:

http://www.menewsline.com/stories/2003/september/09_16_3.html

Ducttape is wrong about it. The power struggle continues.

[bemildred]

16. This is one of the more interesting disputes down here in the dungeon.

The "who is the tail and who is the dog" argument.

Here's another opinion I found on the Daily Star (Lebanon):


America, not Israel, is behind the plan to
expel Arafat

Arab Press

Asharq al-Awsat (London)

Washington has given Palestinian President Yasser Arafat
his eviction notice, columnist Bilal Hassan wrote on Sunday.
'The decisions to change the Palestinian leadership and evict
Arafat were issued not by Israel but by the US. But Israeli
Premier Ariel Sharon hastened to accept the moves because
they help implement his own objectives.
'The 1993 Oslo Accords are gradually being replaced by the
US-backed "road map" peace plan. While both are aimed at
achieving an independent Palestinian state, that sought under
Oslo is permanent, while the road map's state is only
temporary and has no sovereignty.
'Israel cannot discuss Arafat's eviction without US approval,
but Washington has already approved the eviction. The only
difference between Washington and Tel Aviv with regard to
Arafat's eviction is timing ­ with Washington, not Tel Aviv,
choosing the time,' the columnist added.
'But there are two obstacles facing this,' he wrote. 'The first
is the Palestinian resistance to the Israeli occupation and
the second is the Iraqi resistance to the US occupation of
Iraq. Both movements have one thing in common: They are
anti-US.
'When Israel calls for evicting Arafat and when the US
regards the Palestinian resistance to Israeli occupation as
terrorism, the US and Israel are working to undermine regional
peace and returning the Arab-Israeli conflict to square one:
1948.
'This is what is really going on in Palestine and Iraq,
irrespective of whether the Arab regimes understand it,' the
columnist said.


Not that I agree with him, I think its a bit more complicated.

[bemildred]

9. Sanity from the JPOST?

Judging by the excerpt.
Kewl.

[StandWatie]

11. asscovering

That whole episode was embarassing for Israel and they need to pretend that instead of having their leash yanked, they actually just decided on their own it was a bad idea.

[bemildred]

12. Gotta wipe the spittle off their chin, eh?

Get the hair combed again.