(U.S. News) Fouad Ajami - The promise of the peace of Oslo of a decade ago was that the PA would rein in the religious die-hards. This was the bargain that had plucked Arafat from exile in Tunis and bequeathed him a turf in the West Bank and Gaza. But Arafat had not come to Gaza to govern. He had uses for the foot soldiers and leaders of Hamas. They were his alibi for reforms he would never make, and an accommodation with Israel he would never pursue in good faith. In time, Arafat would match Hamas's terrorism with terrorist cells of his own. Thus the fireman turned out to be an arsonist.
2004-03-30 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive