| PLO or Plo-t |
21 April 2003
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Palestinian PM Threatens to Quit
Yasser Arafat recently lost the title of most inept political leader in the Arab world recently to Saddam Hussein, but it appears the Palestinian murderer and stateman wants the championship back. He has agreed to allow a succession of sorts, appointing Mahmoud Abbas a/k/a Abu Mazan his prime minister, and has decided not to let Mr. Abbas appoint his own cabinet. Mr. Abbas reportedly has threatened to quit, and he should if only to provoke Mr. Arafat's retirement.
Politicians often over-stay their welcome, and Mr. Arafat has done this. Often, he has been called the George Washington of the Palestinian people. He is not, though. General Washington knew enough to resign his command when he was finished. President Washington knew enough not to seek a third term because his health was failing and he was growing ineffective. Mr. Arafat does not seem to realize that he, personally, has become a road-block to peace.
Naturally, it takes two to fail to make a deal, and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is a war criminal -- making him a perfect partner for Mr. Arafat. Yet, Mr. Sharon is new to his job, and likely will not serve out his term. Israeli politics are too volatile and too responsive to popular opinion.
Mr. Arafat, though, does not seem to care as much about the Palestinian people as he does about the Palestinian Authority, and his own place in it. In short, he has become (or perhaps has always been) a careerist, sacrificing his followers for his own benefit. Mr. Abbas should either get his own way with this own cabinet, or let Mr. Arafat make the appointments, preserving Abbas' position as a man who might succeed where Mr. Arafat has failed -- repeatedly.