Marwan Bishara (IHT): Arafat Stalls while Palestine Burns

[Jack Rabbit]

From the International Herald Tribune
Dated Tuesday July 27

Arafat Stalls while Palestine Burns
By Marwan Bishara in Jerusalem

Last week, the Gaza Strip, one of the most impoverished and overpopulated areas of the world, seemed to be on the verge of disintegrating into tyranny. If the Palestinian Authority and its isolated leader Yasser Arafat fail to reform and lead effectively, a "war among brothers" is all but imminent. If they succeed, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel will use all means to undermine their efforts and weaken their government.
Ever since the Israeli leader announced his intentions to unilaterally evacuate most of Israel's forces and settlers from Gaza, a Palestinian power struggle has picked up momentum to fill the vacuum.
Two groups are demanding change: The first consists of militant youths from the destitute refugee camps who demand an end to corruption and the consolidation of resistance against the Israeli occupation. Alienated by the Palestinian Authority and left at the mercy of Israeli raids, their violent actions are motivated by anger and frustration and the sense that there is nothing to lose.
The other group is led by mostly disenfranchised political leaders who feel short-changed by Arafat. They are unhappy that their political role has been diminishing because of Israeli oppression and international indifference, and they are are worried about their own safety after recent attacks and kidnappings of officials. Referred to as "moderates," they demand that Arafat consolidate the security forces and delegate authority in accordance with Palestinian basic law in the hope of returning to the negotiations with Israel.

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[Matilda]

1. Arafat is playing into Sharon's hands.

By doing nothing towards reforming the PA, because it might prove
that his critics are right, Arafat is denying the Palestinians a
real voice in the world political arena.

Sharon won't have him killed, thereby granting him martyrdom;
better by far to leave him where he is, holed up in Ramallah and
unable to speak with any real authority to the outside world.

He must look to passing on power to a successor who can take the
political fight to its next stage, and harness the growing world
fear of Israeli military power running unchecked in the Middle East.
If he doesn't, Sharon's thuggery will be met by more of the same
from an increasingly angry and frustrated militant Palestinian
youth, in a war that Palestine can only lose.

Unfortunately, we've seen this before, all over the world - leaders
who have outlived their period of greatest usefulness to their
people, hanging on grimly to an ever-shrinking power base. He
must move aside - let him take a ceremonial role and be a rallying
point for the Palestinian cause, but the real power must be handed
over to someone with a sharp mind and fresh ideas.