Time to do away with the PA

[bemildred]

This farce should have been ended long ago. If
the leaders of the Palestinian Authority had been
blessed with a greater measure of self-respect,
readiness for personal sacrifice and political
audacity, they would have long since declared
the PA liquidated and left all the responsibility
solely in Israel's hands.

If they were more concerned
about the subjects they are
supposed to be in charge of -
the well-being of their
nation - they would have
resigned and thereby torn the
mask from the false
impression of the supposed
government and the "state in
the making." They would have
ceased to be the fig leaf that serves and
perpetuates the Israeli occupation. Instead,
they cling to the few honors and benefits that
Israel continues to confer on a few of them,
and they go on lending a hand to the great
deception that a sovereign Palestinian
Authority and a government with powers exist.

Under a cover of empty titles, they continue to
take part in the fraud while many in Israel and
elsewhere find it convenient to go on believing
that the Israeli occupation of the territories
has not reverted to being total, and that there
is a Palestinia government. "Ministers,"
"director-generals," "deputy ministers" and
"governors," whose titles are empty and lack
any authority, and who cannot rule or make
decisions about anything except for the
official cars and the VIP cards that enable
them to go through checkpoints, continue to
make a mockery of their nation and the
international community.

---

In the past three years Israel has done much to
harm all of the PA's bases of power. Little
remains of it, and the zombie-like entity that
continues to exist in Ramallah should now
depart the world. This is not only an internal
Palestinian matter: Israel, too, bears heavy
responsibility, which it is trying to shake
off. If the Palestinian cabinet ministers were
to declare together that the game is over, that
there is no longer a Palestinian Authority and
no longer a Palestinian government, the entire
weight of responsibility for the occupation
would devolve on Israel.

Haaretz

[bluesoul]

1. I like

the last paragraph!

[bemildred]

3. Unrealistic as it seems to be,

I think it would clarify matters greatly
if Arafat and his posse retired to richly
deserved obscurity.

[GabysPoppy]

4. But not the first?

[bluesoul]

5. Actually

both!

[Darranar]

2. The PA needs to be empowered...

not discarded. It will provide the basis for the government of a Palestinian state.

[Darranar]

7. Let me clarify...

the PA needs to be changed. It is currently filled with a bunch of greedy powerhungry fools who care nothing whatseover about peace.

What is needed is a peacemaker who will oppose terrorism while at the same time not be an Israel-appeaser. This, combined with a peacemaking Israeli government, could make peace. Barghouti is a good pick.

[Classical_Liberal]

9. I disagree.

It would hurt Sharon alot of he didn't have the PA to blame for the security situation. Neither liberal nor conservative Israeli governments will empower the PA at this point.

[Drifter]

6. Holy crap ...

I thought you meant Pennsylvania.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Cheers
Drifter

[rini]

8. I love it!

n/t

[xchrom]

10. contrarian

or at least not before israels tent is folded -- if the accusation that one group there is power hungry can be pasted on -- that makes the average israeli pretty voracious as well. at least in my book.