Arafat calls on Palestinians to commit to cease-fire

[Nie Trink Wasser]

http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/08/27/mideast/index.html

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat said Wednesday the authority is committed to a cease-fire with Israel and urged all Palestinian groups to renew their commitment to it as well.

In a statement issued in Ramallah, West Bank, Arafat called on Palestinian groups "to reaffirm national unity and solidarity" by their "commitment to the cease-fire."

 

[Cleopatra]

Hmmm... Why Yasser would do something like that? Because whatever Arafat does, there must be something that he expects to gain on a personal level in return...

Does he want to demonstrate to the World who is the real boss?

Probably. But then, what will happen to" Arafat the pacifist", if it turns out that the terrorist groups obey to his orders for a cease fire.

Wouldn't it be a proof that it was him who was giving the orders for the attacks?

I know, I know. Who cares? Well, some people that have been trying to uncover the true face of "Arafat the pacifist", do care.

How is this poem of Khalil Gilbran going?

" Pity the Nation that has such leaders..."

Edited to add: I believe that he is not lying.

 

[Cleon]

The situation with Arafat can be summed up two ways:

#1 - He is a shameless opportunist who will say anything to make him look good to the people he's talking to.

#2 - Since the US/Israel dictated the Palestinians' choice of Prime Minister (Abbas), he has as much actual political power as the Queen of England.

What Arafat does have is influence--most Palestinians will listen to what he has to say. His word goes along way within the bulk of the PA and PLO. The radical Islamicist elements--Hamas, Islamic Jihad, etc.--are another story. They'll do whatever they think is in their own best interest. Specifically, they want to maintain and expand their own power base.

The end result of his statement? It won't make a damn bit of difference in the grand scheme of things. PIJ and Hamas will only listen to him if they're already inclined to do so, which doesn't appear to be the case.

 

[Cleopatra]

I think that there is no doubt that Arafat is a shameless opportunist.

The recent events have shown one interesting thing; that Hamas and Jihad actually negotiate, that's why they managed to keep a cease fire.

The myth that those groups cannot be controlled cannot be supported anymore, they can be controlled and they believe that they have a political role to play.

Let us not forget that the Palestinian State is ante portas so, they want to have a political position in the forthcoming State.

I bet you that they will represent the Islamic parties in the future Palestinian state and the old PLO the secular party-- those categorizations in a gross way.Of course if Israel was smarter we wouldn't have to live with Islamists outside of our door...

God, I feel that I can almost touch this damn future!!

 

[Nie Trink Wasser]

Qassam Rocket Hits Major Israeli City -Army
Thu August 28, 2003 07:55 AM ET
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - A Qassam rocket fired by the militant Hamas group on Thursday landed in a major Israeli city for the first time, causing no casualties or damage but heightening tensions on the tinderbox Israel-Gaza border.
The makeshift rocket slammed into an industrial zone in the coastal city of Ashkelon, 5.5 miles from the Gaza Strip, the army said, the furthest a Qassam has flown into Israel since a Palestinian uprising for statehood began in 2000.

The army said earlier the rocket traveled eight miles.

http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=3350326