Arafat to run for Re-Election......

[aphex]

Link from FoxNews.com

Excerpt:

"JERICHO, West Bank ? Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat will run for re-election in January, a senior aide said Wednesday, despite a call by President Bush for a new Palestinian leadership. "

"It had been widely expected that Arafat would run, but the statement by Palestinian Planning Minister Nabil Shaath was immediately disputed by another senior official, Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo, who said it was premature to announce candidacies before details were worked out and as long as Israeli troops occupied most of the Palestinian cities in the West Bank. "

 

[shurato]

The sad thing is that if he ran he would probably get re-elected because the tools over there don't realize he does more harm than good to the Palestinian cause.

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: shurato
The sad thing is that if he ran he would probably get re-elected because the tools over there don't realize he does more harm than good to the Palestinian cause.

Im not sure, i think the palestinians dont believe he has any control either....

 

[rbhawcroft]

shows himself to be the consumate politician.

 

[rbhawcroft]

you dont understand the PLO

the PLO is a council only. Arafat became chairman about four yrs after it was founded in early 60's, the PLO is the umbrealla group for all palestinian's political and resistance groups. including PFLP and Hamas and Fatah. He relies on their good will for his position, now as they transist into statehood clearly this has to transist into a more democratic org, but as it is he pretty much relies on their good will, and that Fatah is the most popular group. he doesnt have some devine aouthority like a dictaror or even a proper president and thats why his power ebbs and flows with palesinian popular opinion.

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: rbhawcroft
shows himself to be the consumate politician.

Not to be critical, but for someone who claims to always be right, isnt it spelled 'consummate'?

 

[justint]

Interestingly enough, the best most viable candidate to replace Arafat as Palestinian president Marwan Barghouti is in an Israeli jail right now.

 

[jjones]

Originally posted by: rbhawcroft
shows himself to be the consumate politician.

For once we agree on something.

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: justint
Interestingly enough, the best most viable candidate to replace Arafat as Palestinian president Marwan Barghouti is in an Israeli jail right now.

Is this the scholar that has been interviewed on MSNBC a few times? Or was that someone else?

 

[jjones]

Originally posted by: aphexII

Originally posted by: rbhawcroft
shows himself to be the consumate politician.

Not to be critical, but for someone who claims to be always right, isnt it spelled 'consummate'?

As with much of gimpcroft's posts, he tends to overlook or ignore the details.

 

[justint]

No, there are a couple of important Barghoutis in Palestinian poltiics and civil society (what thier is of it). One is a scholar, one is a member of the PA cabinet, one is the head of Palestinian medical operations in the West Bank. This is the Barghouti who was the head of the Tanzim in the West Bank. He spent a long time in Israeli prisons during the first Intifada for organizing demonstrations and the like but not really any terrorist activites just political ones that pissed the Israelis off. He learned Hebrew and was considered by the Israelis as a pragmatist that they could work with. When the current Intifada broke out and the Tanzim unchracteristically started participating in direct attacks against Israeli civillians he was moved to Israels wanted list and was captured in Ramallah during Operation Defensive Shield. He is in his 40's, an electrifying speaker, and unlike Arafat considered to be not only a nationalist but a relatively honest man unlike Arafat and his circle of wanna be mafioso who seem to have lost all direction

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: justint
No, there area couple of important Barghoutis in Palestinian poltiics and civil society (what thier is of it). One is a scholar, one is a member of the PA cabinet, one is the head of Palestinian medical operations in the West Bank. This is the Barghouti who was the head of the Tanzim in the West Bank. He spent a long time in Israeli prisons during the first Intifada for organizing demonstrations and the like but not really any terrorist activites just political ones that pissed the Israelis off. He learned Hebrew and was considered by the Israelis as a pragmatist that they could work with. When the current Intifada broke out and the Tanzim unchracteristically started participating in direct attacks against Israeli civillians he was moved to Israels wanted list and was captured in Ramallah during Operation Defensive Shield. He is in his 40's, an electrifying speaker, and unlike Arafat considered to be not only a nationalist but a relatively honest man unlike Arafat and his circle of wanna be mafioso who seem to have lost all direction

Sounds like this man has potential to help in a peaceful conclusion, any chances of him winning the election? (pending release from jail).

 

[KAMAZON]

Originally posted by: shurato
The sad thing is that if he ran he would probably get re-elected because the tools over there don't realize he does more harm than good to the Palestinian cause.

The only tool here is you with those kind of brainwashed comments. HAMAS, Arafats political rival, who admittingly were helped to be oranized and setup b Sharon as a counter to Arafats Fatwa movement. Sharon awnts to put HAMAS in power to start a major war to kick ut hte palestanians to the 'true palestanian state, jordan' which sharon has said many times. Sharon is evil and is the problem, not arafat. Sharon and Netenyahous party the Likud killed Yitzak Rabin, Arafats peace partner, and now will kill Arafat. The amount of misinformation ni the USA is sickening.

 

[justint]

That has big caveats. The Tanzim did start participating in terrorist attacks and I think even a few suicide attacks I don't know how deaply Barghouti may have been involved in that if it all, but the Israelis obviously wanted him
arrested. Barghouti was actually one of the biggest advocates of the peace process and an enemy of Hamas and Islamic Jihad for thier tactics and radicalization of Palestinian society until recently. He seems to have engaged in a marriage of convenience with some elements of those groups at least in order to fight the Isrealis. It's kind of murky, and obviously we are not privy to the inner workings of Palestinian guerilla groups. Interestingly enough, thier are rumors today of the Israelis trading him to Hezbollah for information about Ron Arad and the three Israeli soldiers captured by Hezbollah in 2000. If they are talking about letting him go, they probably don't think he is that dangerous. He's definately not a peacnik though, but then neither is Sharon.

 

[Lucky]

Originally posted by: KAMAZON

Originally posted by: shurato
The sad thing is that if he ran he would probably get re-elected because the tools over there don't realize he does more harm than good to the Palestinian cause.

The only tool here is you with those kind of brainwashed comments. HAMAS, Arafats political rival, who admittingly were helped to be oranized and setup b Sharon as a counter to Arafats Fatwa movement. Sharon awnts to put HAMAS in power to start a major war to kick ut hte palestanians to the 'true palestanian state, jordan' which sharon has said many times. Sharon is evil and is the problem, not arafat. Sharon and Netenyahous party the Likud killed Yitzak Rabin, Arafats peace partner, and now will kill Arafat. The amount of misinformation ni the USA is sickening.

Aren't you that bigoted jew-hater from [ H ] ?

 

[rufruf44]

Hopefully Palestinians use their brain and elect someone else. Why did you elect someone who has no control whatsoever of the current affairs is anyone guess. Then again, if Arafat does get elected and plunging Palestine into more violence, it would give Israel enough cause to go there and use military force in greater extent ==> dead end for Palestinians.

 

[shurato]

Originally posted by: KAMAZON

Originally posted by: shurato
The sad thing is that if he ran he would probably get re-elected because the tools over there don't realize he does more harm than good to the Palestinian cause.

The only tool here is you with those kind of brainwashed comments. HAMAS, Arafats political rival, who admittingly were helped to be oranized and setup b Sharon as a counter to Arafats Fatwa movement. Sharon awnts to put HAMAS in power to start a major war to kick ut hte palestanians to the 'true palestanian state, jordan' which sharon has said many times. Sharon is evil and is the problem, not arafat. Sharon and Netenyahous party the Likud killed Yitzak Rabin, Arafats peace partner, and now will kill Arafat. The amount of misinformation ni the USA is sickening.

Actually...your the Tool here...I am not even going to bother trying to decipher what u just said u friggin idiot. Its common knowledge Arafat still has popular support from his people. Was I even talking about Sharon or Hamas? Start your own damn topic if you wanna talk about your conspiracy theories you TOOL.

 

[justint]

Arafat only has popular support by default.
His people are overwhlemingly deeply dissatisfied with his leadership and the corrupt Palestinian authority
On the other hand what people on Earth would give in to foriegn pressure to get rid of thier elected leader and the symbol of thie nationalism particularly in a time of war and crisi even if he is not the best leader. It would be like getting rid of George Washington during the winter at Valley Forge

 

[Dually]

Arafat was never elected in a Democratic process. He didn't have fee elections last time and only an old woman ran against him.

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: KAMAZON

Originally posted by: shurato
The sad thing is that if he ran he would probably get re-elected because the tools over there don't realize he does more harm than good to the Palestinian cause.

The only tool here is you with those kind of brainwashed comments. HAMAS, Arafats political rival, who admittingly were helped to be oranized and setup b Sharon as a counter to Arafats Fatwa movement. Sharon awnts to put HAMAS in power to start a major war to kick ut hte palestanians to the 'true palestanian state, jordan' which sharon has said many times. Sharon is evil and is the problem, not arafat. Sharon and Netenyahous party the Likud killed Yitzak Rabin, Arafats peace partner, and now will kill Arafat. The amount of misinformation ni the USA is sickening.

Your a friggen idiot if thats what you truely think.

 

[justint]

Dually

Umm just because only one person ran against him ( which I don't think is true) doesn't mean it wasn't a free and fair election. Say what you will about his leadership since then which has in my opinon been poor and not helpfull towards the establishment of a true democracy, but he was overwhelmingly elected in an election that was watched by the whole world including the US and declared to be legitimate. It was a democratic process.

 

[SuperTool]

Even if it was a free and fair election, it doesn't mean US or Israel would like whoever wins. I think it's pretty pointless. It doesn't matter who wins and what happens. Israel doesn't want to give up the settlements, and they will find some reason not to give them up. It's just going to be another cycle of violence. Israel won't negotiate while terrorism is happenning, and Israel has no incentive to negotiate when there is no terrorism.
We all know what the final settlement will look like. It will be something along the 1967 lines with removal of settlements. There is no way the Palestinians will accept anything less. So we need to move towards that, and put pressure on both sides.

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: SuperTool
Even if it was a free and fair election, it doesn't mean US or Israel would like whoever wins. I think it's pretty pointless. It doesn't matter who wins and what happens. Israel doesn't want to give up the settlements, and they will find some reason not to give them up. It's just going to be another cycle of violence. Israel won't negotiate while terrorism is happenning, and Israel has no incentive to negotiate when there is no terrorism.
We all know what the final settlement will look like. It will be something along the 1967 lines with removal of settlements. There is no way the Palestinians will accept anything less. So we need to move towards that, and put pressure on both sides.

I agree, but something needs to change. And the replacement of Arafat is a start.