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| Middle East |
| Sources: Arafat approaching other PM candidates |
| 2003-04-21 |
| (Hat Tip to Laurence Simon) EFLRAMALLAH, West Bank (CNN) --Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat is starting to approach other candidates about becoming prime minister after failing to agree so far with Prime Minister-Designate Mahmoud Abbas on a list of new Cabinet members, Palestinian sources said Monday. Who wants to be a millionaire? Arafat and Abbas are engaged in a power struggle, with the Palestinian Authority president seeking to retain as much control as he can, sources told CNN. Abbas -- commonly known as Abu Mazen -- has said he wants genuine authority in the job. But that would take power from "aging despot, drama queen, terrorist, and baby wipe guru, Arafat" A senior U.S. State Department official said that Secretary of State Colin Powell spoke Monday with European Foreign policy chief Javier Solana and other officials in the region in recent days in an effort to break the deadlock between Arafat and Abbas. It's very simple - ignore Arafat, and annoint abbas as head of the next regime. Nothing will go forward until the upcoming Paleo Civil War is over Powell's message: It's "time for Arafat to back off," the official said. Senior Palestinian officials unsuccessfully worked through Sunday night to come up with a compromise proposal, but they were pessimistic that a new government will be cobbled together and approved by a Wednesday deadline, sources said. Abbas and Arafat disagree over whether former Gaza Preventative Security Chief Mohammed Dahlan will be included in the new government. Among other appointments they disagree on...but really it's all about the power Abbas wants Dahlan to be in charge of security, but Arafat favors Hani el-Hasan, the interior minister and an Arafat Israel Radio reported that Arafat and Abbas are considering a compromise government list that would not include Dahlan. He's replaceable as long as the rest of the list pisses Arafish off just as much This proposal has 24 ministers, 14 of whom were part of the previous Cabinet, Israel Radio reported. Israel Radio said Dahlan on Sunday offered to give up a seat in the Cabinet to help both men reach an agreement. The report cited Palestinian sources as saying that Abbas won't hold more meetings with Arafat. Abbas, sources said, is ready to walk away from the job rather than give in to Arafat. Bluff? Under pressure from the international community to reform the Palestinian Authority, Arafat agreed to the creation of the prime minister post, giving it significant powers. Arafat then nominated Abbas, the Palestine Liberation Organization's longtime secretary-general. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has refused to reopen peace negotiations with Arafat. Ra'anan Gissin, an adviser to Sharon, has said that the Israeli leader would invite Abbas to Jerusalem for talks once a new Palestinian government is sworn in. Shows Arafat how relevant he is, hmmm? Under Palestinian legal procedures, if a new government isn't formed by the deadline, Arafat would have to appoint someone else to come up with a Cabinet list. Abbas was one of the first Palestinian leaders to make contact with Israeli peace advocates. According to the PLO, Abbas was a signatory of the 1993 Declaration of Principles that launched the Palestinian-Israeli peace process. Two years later, Abbas signed the Interim Peace Agreement, known as the Oslo Accords, with Israel. |
| Posted by:Frank G |
| #1 "Israel Radio reported that Arafat and Abbas are considering a compromise government list that would not include Dahlan." He's replaceable as long as the rest of the list pisses Arafish off just as much General rule for Abu Mazen - Arafat negotiations - if Arafat insists on X, its a sure sign giving in on X will stop peace. Arafat wants Dahlan out so he can retain control over security - if Arafat retains control over security, whole thing is doomed, whater else Arafat gives up on. If Abu Mazen gives in on Dahlan, I will be very concerned, and will join the ultrahawks in their skepticism of Abu Mazen. West has to press Abu Mazen to stand firm. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-04-21 12:50:12 |