| Submit your comments on this article |
| Middle East |
| Yasser's gonna run... |
| 2002-07-17 |
| Yasser Arafat confirmed that he would be a candidate in January's Palestinian leadership elections, throwing down a gauntlet to US President George Bush. At the same time, Arafat's deputy in the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), Mahmud Abbas, who is more acceptable to critics of the Palestinian leadership, said he would not oppose him in the polls. Mahmud woke up with a horse's head in his bed. Besides, he's got his retirement fund now... Asked if he would run by an interviewer for Egyptian television, Arafat said, "Of course, if I am tasked by the Palestinian command (because) I am proud of our democracy." Goddammit. There goes another keyboard... It was the first time Arafat had said personally that he intended to run in the Palestinian presidential elections, which he is tipped to win, although aides have indicated this was his intention. Arafat also hit out at Bush, who called last month for Palestinians to change their leaders for ones not "compromised by terror" or lose US backing for their own state, in reference to Israel's charges that Arafat is deeply implicated in anti-Israeli attacks by Palestinian militant groups. It's their choice. I'm sure they'll enjoy life behind the fence. Civilized people can come to see them now and then, tossing them peanuts and watching them explode... |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |