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Palestinian Leadership Makes Many Steps But Hardly Moves

(Gulf News-Dubai) Elias Zananiri - The U.S. is badly in need of a move that would restore part of its credibility and therefore would be ready to move positively towards the Palestinians. But according to Arafat's thinking, there is no need to help an ailing president like George Bush, who is facing the threat of being voted out of the White House next November. Last week, Arafat chaired a meeting during which Prime Minister Abu Ala and Dr. Saeb Erekat, the minister in charge of negotiations with Israel, urged Arafat to introduce reforms and to furnish Abu Ala with the authority he needs. Jibril Rajoub, who is currently Arafat's advisor on security, asked the president to consolidate all the security forces under one person, as proposed by the roadmap. Arafat was furious. He screamed at Rajoub and ordered him out of the room. A day later, shots were fired at his office. Some argued that those bullets could be the signal from Arafat's supporters to remind Rajoub who is the boss. The writer is a Jerusalem-based Palestinian journalist.
2004-05-18 00:00:00
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