### Author:  [@december](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/december)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2002, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-financed-and-oversaw-terrorist-attacks-by-palestinian-militants-so-what/103235/1 "2002-04-12T14:17:26Z")
Israel has provided [evidence](http://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/12/international/middleeast/12STRA.html?ex=1019275200&en=1d29c7e914ee685a&ei=5006&partner=ALTAVISTA1) that Arafat financed and oversaw terrorist attacks.
> [@](#):
>
> Israel has given the United States a cache of documents that Israeli officials say were captured in raids in the West Bank and establish that Yasir Arafat financed and oversaw terrorist attacks by Palestinian militants.
> \
> The Israelis say the documents and other intelligence do more than draw a link to Mr. Arafat and his top lieutenants. They say they also show that elements of the Palestinian office of preventive security, which the United States has backed as a way to enhance the authority of moderate Palestinians and head off terrorist attacks, are also linked to suicide bombings.
Of course, these attacks totally violate past agreements, which ironically put Arafat in charge of providing security for most or all of the West Bank.
What _should_ various parties do with this information and what _will_ they do? E.g.
[ul]
[li]Israel arrests Arafat and tries hiim for terrorism[/li][li]US puts the PLO and Arafat personally on their terrorist list[/li][li]Europe stops giving financial support to Arafat and apologizes to Israel for their past support[/li][/ul] Well, that’s the actions I’d like to see. However, my guess is that these parties will make no change in response to this new information.
What’s your view?
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### Author:  [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2002, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-financed-and-oversaw-terrorist-attacks-by-palestinian-militants-so-what/103235/2 "2002-04-12T14:19:52Z")
How exactly, would Israel arrest Arafat?
It would be a bad idea methinks.
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### Author:  [@Urban\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urban_Ranger)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2002, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-financed-and-oversaw-terrorist-attacks-by-palestinian-militants-so-what/103235/3 "2002-04-12T14:36:44Z")
So are you saying that Ariel Sharon should not be arrested for directing terrorist actions in the occupied territory?
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### Author:  [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2002, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-financed-and-oversaw-terrorist-attacks-by-palestinian-militants-so-what/103235/4 "2002-04-12T17:09:42Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by december \*
> \*\*
> What _should_ various parties do with this information and what _will_ they do? E.g.
\*\*
At the very least we can put to rest the myth that Arafat and the Palestinians in power want to make an honest effort towards peace. Maybe Israel should just stop negotiations with Arafat. Why negotiate with someone who doesn’t do so in good faith?
> [@](#):
>
> \*\*
> [/list] Well, that’s the actions I’d like to see. However, my guess is that these parties will make no change in response to this new information.
>
> What’s your view? \*\*
Of course not. People will continue to believe that Israel is in the wrong just as much as the Palestinian authorities.
Marc
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### Author:  [@Mandos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mandos)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2002, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-financed-and-oversaw-terrorist-attacks-by-palestinian-militants-so-what/103235/5 "2002-04-12T20:13:39Z")
> [@](#):
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> \*Originally posted by Urban Ranger \*
> \*\*So are you saying that Ariel Sharon should not be arrested for directing terrorist actions in the occupied territory? \*\*
What terrorist actions?
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### Author:  [@pantom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pantom)
#### Post date: [April 13, 2002, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-financed-and-oversaw-terrorist-attacks-by-palestinian-militants-so-what/103235/6 "2002-04-13T18:12:24Z")
Just look at **Urban Ranger** for the effect that this treachery has on those disposed in that direction: nil.
Nothing Arafat does will make anyone do anything to him. And he knows it. And he takes total advantage of it. That’s what makes the situation over there so impossible.
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### Author:  [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)
#### Post date: [April 13, 2002, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-financed-and-oversaw-terrorist-attacks-by-palestinian-militants-so-what/103235/7 "2002-04-13T21:03:20Z")
And now the word is that Powell is going to meet with him anyway, despite the big suicide bombing on the day of his arrival.
I find this all pretty frustrating. I get the field that Arafat could personally machine-gun a schoolyard full of kids, and the Americans would go, “Hey, cut that out, or for SURE we’re going to stop talking to you! Don’t do it again!”
In the meantime, all someone has to do in Afghanistan is look at an American the wrong way, and he’s going to get a couple thousands pounds of JDAM action dropping on his head.
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### Author:  [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)
#### Post date: [April 13, 2002, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-financed-and-oversaw-terrorist-attacks-by-palestinian-militants-so-what/103235/8 "2002-04-13T21:06:37Z")
er, “Get the Feeling”, not “Get the Field”
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### Author:  [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)
#### Post date: [April 13, 2002, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-financed-and-oversaw-terrorist-attacks-by-palestinian-militants-so-what/103235/9 "2002-04-13T21:36:54Z")
Let’s take it as given that Arafat is both condoning and actively supporting terrorism and that Israel has every right and obligation to do whatever is needed to prevent (or at least reduce) future attacks. Still, what path to peace do you see without involving Arafat? Wasn’t it Rabin who had said “You don’t make peace treaties with your friends.”
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### Author:  [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)
#### Post date: [April 13, 2002, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-financed-and-oversaw-terrorist-attacks-by-palestinian-militants-so-what/103235/10 "2002-04-13T23:03:23Z")
All I know is, leaving a vicious terrorist as the head of state isn’t the way to do it. Who could possibly be worse?
Ultimately, I think there is going to have to be buffer zones and pacification. I wouldn’t be surprised if an ultimate solution involves a complete Israeli withdrawal, an establishment of buffer zones, and then policing by an international group hopefully made up of muslim troops like Jordanians or Turks. Or failing that, perhaps a U.N. peacekeeping team.
On the other hand, I wouldn’t be surprised if my grandchildren are still talking about the Palestinian problem 50 years from now.
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### Author:  [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)
#### Post date: [April 13, 2002, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-financed-and-oversaw-terrorist-attacks-by-palestinian-militants-so-what/103235/11 "2002-04-13T23:08:13Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by DSeid \*
> \*\* Still, what path to peace do you see without involving Arafat? Wasn’t it Rabin who had said “You don’t make peace treaties with your friends.” \*\*
Rabin was right on. However there’s no reason to negotiate with your enemy if it is clear that your enemy doesn’t want peace. Not only has Arafat not done his part to prevent terrorism but he has actively been involved in promoting it. It seems clear to me that negotiations with Arafat is not a path to peace.
Marc
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### Author:  [@pantom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pantom)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2002, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-financed-and-oversaw-terrorist-attacks-by-palestinian-militants-so-what/103235/12 "2002-04-14T01:41:28Z")
Well, Tom Friedman, the guy who brought us the Saudi peace plan and got all the Arab states to say in public under what conditions they would be willing to live with Israel, also said that eventually American troops would be needed to police the border between Israel and the Palestinian areas.
Perhaps NATO troops or some combo of some nations or even UN troops, but someone is going to wind up policing that border, it looks like.
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### Author:  [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2002, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-financed-and-oversaw-terrorist-attacks-by-palestinian-militants-so-what/103235/13 "2002-04-14T03:46:45Z")
…And that’s very dangerous, because it risks drawing other powers into the conflict. If another Lebanon Barracks attack occurs and kills a couple of hundred American or British or Canadian soldiers, then they’ll be drawn into the conflict.
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### Author:  [@pantom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pantom)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2002, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-financed-and-oversaw-terrorist-attacks-by-palestinian-militants-so-what/103235/14 "2002-04-14T04:00:52Z")
I agree. Impossible situation all around.
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### Author:  [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2002, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-financed-and-oversaw-terrorist-attacks-by-palestinian-militants-so-what/103235/15 "2002-04-14T04:48:13Z")
**sam** ,
With Arafat there is the potential of a figure who has enough support among the different Arab factions that he maybe could deliver on a crack down … if somehow he was actually a leader with the good of his people in mind. (I know, he has proven that he does not, or he would have settled with the offer from Barak.)
What could be worse? Having no one with even that one chance in Hell to talk to. Given the choice between one chance in Hell and none …