Is there a chance that Arafat may be willing to do what it takes to get a future for the Palestinian people?
I refer to two seperate developments:
In The Jerusalem Post this report of the PA actually arresting some of those directly responsible for the terror attacks upon Israel. A small step, but better than empty words alone.
In Ha’Aretz this report that Arafat is willing to accept CD2, belatedly. Yeah, I know that it is no longer on the table. That Israel needs more assurance of security than Arafat’s word at this point. But it is a positive signal that is a chance to build off of. Or is Arafat so totally worthless and unreliable at this point that it is too little too late?
I’d say respond with a pull-back of forces from the West Bank and see if further arrests of terroist leadership follows. If so, then use that as a justification to re-engage in real talks.
When the PA “arrests” a terrorist, they roll out the red carpet in their “prison”, give them cell phones and fax machines to plan more murders, and then release them. This has historicaly infuriated the Israelis. Arafat has zero credibility with anyone, not Israel, not the United States, not even his own people.
The sad truth is that the Hubble telescope wouldn’t be able to find any light at the end of this tunnel.
Isn’t all this just preparing the ground for the new policy ‘initiative’ by Bush ?..one sense a lot of hard ball activity behind the scenes. The speech must happen soon, this week maybe ?
E7 …, I cannot say that what you claim is untrue, (and I’d suspect that it is true) but do you have evidence to show that it is? Look, we cannot expect that the PA can totally successfully crack down on those committing the terrorist acts, agreed? It would be unreasonable to expect anyone in any political entity to arrest its own citizens and turn them over to a foreign power. (Israel wouldn’t turn over Israelis who are on trial for terrorism to the PA, would it?) What we are asking from the PA is a good faith effort at really stopping the terror attacks, as opposed to their usual facilitating thereof. If at first it is more of a show than a real effort then at least it serves the purpose of allowing a process to restart.
London, so what if it is posturing? The question is whether or not it is a posture that something real can be built upon.
Meanwhile the Israeli response was to surround Arafat’s compound. What exactly is that supposed to accomplish? How does that help the Israeli position? Mind you, I am convinced that Arafat is a doddering old fart who continues to support terror out of inertia alone and who does not have any vision for his people, only a vision to preserve his own feifdom for as long as possible. But for now this old fart remains the fart that any peace solution must pass through. Israel may need to hold its nose, but perpetuating a situation where there is even less leadership on the PA side leaves even less hope for any change of course.
I understand, but Arafat has an unofficial policy of extremely lax penalties for terrost acts, followed by the release of the planners completely. It isn’t a matter of not being able to - Arafat simply hasn’t the will or the power to do it.
Its a warning. They are sending the message: “We can kill you anytime we like. You are never safe as long as we feel threatened. DO what you will at your own risk.”
smiling, yes Arafat has aided and abetted terror. But don’t forget the carrot. Negatively reinforce terrorist acts, but reward acts that come closer to the behavior needed to work for peace.