(US News) Larry Derfner and Khaled Abu Toameh - The November 11 death of Arafat, the impossible peace partner who ruled the Palestinians for 35 years, seems to have rebooted his people's political mind-set. Abbas is starkly different from his predecessor and is making that difference felt. The other significant change is that the intifada has run out of gas. Relentless, comprehensive Israeli military pressure has stopped suicide bombers from getting through to Israeli cities; the uprising has been contained to Gaza and the West Bank, where the Palestinians are getting much the worst of it, particularly in the past year or so. Many Palestinians have grown tired of fighting a losing battle, but only now do they have a leader urging them to be realistic, to put down their weapons, and to try the diplomatic route once again. These shifts have had a sobering effect on Palestinian radicals.
2005-02-18 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive