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time for new chapter in Israel/Palestinian relations?

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout: Debate & Discussion' started by Woofer, Oct 27, 2004.

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  1. Woofer

    Woofer Member

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    http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2004/10/27/international1512EDT0608.DTL

    Arafat's health crisis exposes lack of preparation for orderly succession

    (10-27) 13:31 PDT JERUSALEM (AP) --

    Yasser Arafat's latest health crisis -- a severe flu, gallstones, a battery of cancer tests -- has exposed how unprepared the Palestinians are for their leader's death, making a chaotic transition period all but inevitable.

    Arafat, 75 and noticeably weakened after more than two years of confinement to a dank compound, still refuses to groom a successor; rival security chiefs are already battling each other in the streets.

    No leader of Arafat's stature and popularity is waiting in the wings, said Palestinian legislator Hanan Ashrawi. "It's only natural to expect that there would be either a power struggle or there would be a loss of cohesion," she said.

    Analysts said it could take years for a leader to emerge, hurting prospects for an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal.

    Even with Arafat still alive, chaos has gripped much of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Gunmen routinely commandeer government offices or hold employees hostage to demand jobs or housing. In recent months, security agents loyal to Gaza strongman Mohammed Dahlan, who has presidential ambitions, have clashed with supporters of another security chief, Arafat relative Moussa Arafat.

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    #1 Woofer, Oct 27, 2004
  2. HayesStreet

    HayesStreet Member

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    Did Israel just have its vote to withdraw from Gaza?
     
    #2 HayesStreet, Oct 27, 2004
  3. FranchiseBlade

    FranchiseBlade Member
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    Israel had one of the necessary votes. IT passed, but there is still at least one more vote that must pass, before there can be any official withdraw.
     
    #3 FranchiseBlade, Oct 27, 2004
  4. Chump

    Chump Member

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    yeah I heard about that yesterday and was sorta amazed and optimistic by the news

    now if the palestinians will recipicate with true and meanful concessions as well, the prospects for peace get better

    although from what I heard, Israel isn't explaining this vote as concession to the Palestinians, but as a move in trying to keep Israel are solid majority - jewish state. they are afraid of their population becoming diluted i think?

    I haven't read anything about it today so I'm just going by memory of the NPR report
     
    #4 Chump, Oct 27, 2004
  5. FranchiseBlade

    FranchiseBlade Member
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    If Israel keeps the Gaza strip they are in danger of having more Arab citizens than Jewish ones, and would no longer be a Jewish state. Thus they are withdrawing from Gaza. Some say this is so they can keep a firmer grasp on the West Bank.
     
    #5 FranchiseBlade, Oct 27, 2004
  6. wizardball

    wizardball Member

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    Arafat...


    him being gone makes no difference.
     
    #6 wizardball, Oct 27, 2004
  7. Mango

    Mango Member

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    <a HREF="http://www.haaretz.com/">Haaretz</a>

    His condition seems to be worsening.
     
    #7 Mango, Oct 27, 2004
  8. Deckard

    Deckard Blade Runner
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    Nice link to Haaretz, Mango. Here's a bit from CNN, as well... looks like they got their story from Haaretz! ;)

    -from CNN:
    RAMALLAH, West Bank (CNN) -- Ailing Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has agreed to his doctors' recommendation and will go to Paris, France, for treatment, an aide said Thursday.

    Abbas Zaki, a member of the Fatah Central Committee, said Arafat will be taken Friday to Jordan by helicopter, where he will be placed aboard a French aircraft for the flight to Paris.

    It will be Arafat's first excursion from his Ramallah compound since 2001 when Israel confined him to his West Bank quarters.

    Earlier, Arafat expressed reluctance about leaving his home. His aides have said in the past that he feared the Israeli army would raid his headquarters in his absence.

    Senior aide Nabil Abu Rudeineh said Arafat is exhausted, weak, and has been unable to keep down any food for the last 15 days. He is receiving fluids intravenously.

    The Israeli government said Thursday it would not bar Arafat from returning to his compound after receiving medical treatment.

    "If ... the doctors say that he needs to be transferred to a certain hospital and then be returned back, Israel will not impose any conditions, Israel will not impose any restrictions," Raanan Gissin, a senior adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, told CNN.

    "As with regards to the future ... that's a separate issue." In the past, Israel has said it could not guarantee Arafat's safe return if he left his compound.

    The Israeli decision came after Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei called his Israeli counterpart Thursday morning, asking for and receiving approval for any medical assistance that might be needed.

    Gissin said Sharon "has issued instructions to provide any medical assistance necessary -- and that includes teams of doctors that will be arriving."

    Israel had confined Arafat to his compound for nearly three years, accusing him of provoking suicide bombings, charges he denies.

    http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/10/28/arafat.health/index.html


    I thought it very surprising that Israel agreed to let him return, if he left for medical treatment. Arafat can stay in France to the end of his days, as far as I'm concerned. Considering how much money he's rumored to have skimmed from the Palestinian Authority funds, he can have a comfortable, if unhealthy, exile. Should his illness be as serious as it sounds, he may not return, allowed or not. This is going to have a huge impact on the region. It will be interesting to see just what that impact is.



    Keep D&D Civil!!
     
    #8 Deckard, Oct 28, 2004
  9. DaDakota

    DaDakota Balance wins
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    Good Riddance.

    I will bet that him coming back is not as clean as they make it sound.


    DD
     
    #9 DaDakota, Oct 28, 2004
    Last edited: Oct 28, 2004
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