Palestinian inquiry blames Arafat for anarchy

[Gimel]

A Palestinian Legislative Council investigation into the reasons for the chaos in the Palestinian Authority found that the main reason for the anarchy is that the PA and its leader, Yasser Arafat, have failed to make a clear political decision to end it.

The report also calls for an end to Qassam rocket fire into Israel and attacks inside Israel, the resignation of the members of the Qureia government and general elections.

"The main reason for the failure of the Palestinian security forces and their lack of action in restoring law and order," says the report prepared by the five-member PLC committee, "is the total lack of a clear political decision and no definition of their roles, either for the long term or the short."

The PLC panel last month interviewed dozens of people, ranging from Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia to leading commanders of security forces, as well as Fatah activists from all over Gaza. The testimony is strikingly frank, and includes charges that the PA leadership failed to build state institutions so it ended up using clan mechanisms instead of the law to deal with out-of-control armed factions.

More here..

[Gimel]

1. The PLC

These are the conclusions of the Palestinians own legislature's report.

Arafat refuses to bring peace to the reason. That is the cause of the violence. The wall is a necessity as long as Arafat and his people remain in power.

[IA_Seth]

2. No equation there

There is no connection between the peace barrier (as much a barrier TO peace as you claim it to be a barrier FOR peace) and this article.

The only mention I found was:

"Sharon conducted his policy unobstructed for a long time, until The Hague decision about the fence came along and changed everything. But nonetheless, we continue to take the illogical path and don't recognize international and regional developments."

Which clearly doesn't take the position that the barrier to peace is a necessity.

Another point I found interesting:

"... It is prohibited to launch rockets and to fire weapons from houses, and that is a supreme Palestinian interest that should not be violated because the result is barbaric retaliation by the occupying army and the citizenry cannot accept such shooting. Those who do it are a certain group that does not represent the people and nation, doing it without thinking about the general interest and public opinion in the world and in Israel. There is no vision or purpose to the missiles; the Palestinian interest is more important," Balawi said."

They point out that the violence propigated by some in Palestine leads to the barbaric retaliation on all by the IDF forces. THIS is the crime that needs to be stopped.

[Gimel]

6. my comment

was my own. I see little reason to stick to ONLY the printed and mentioned subjects. No one else here does. You are unfairly criticizing me for my inclusion of another relevant topic that does not appear in the article. I did not put it in the post with the article, of which I am in agreement, but only to bring in other relevant aspects, especially those which have been discussed in I/P.

[IA_Seth]

14. oh lord

I am not "criticizing" you unfairly. I am saying they way you wrote your post infers that the wall helps things. I dont think it does, and neither does this commission that you posted the report from.

I don't understand why it always gets personal like I am trying to attack you. I don't know you and nothing in my posts is directed to you as a person. I am trying to reference facts and present my opinion, something it seems is not taken well sometimes 'round here.

[Proudlib]

4. Quick, Have DUers Write

The Palestinian legislature so they can set them straight. See, it's all Israel's fault.

I read that on this very forum with my own 2 eyes.

What do the Palestinians themselves know? The experts here seem to have a firmer grasp on the situation.

[Djinn]

5. doesn't quite follow

I'd be more than happy to see Arafat replaced with someone who hasn't got old and complacent but you don't honestly beleive that were Arafat gone the Palestinians and Israelis would suddenly be singing Kumbaya with each other? Seriously that going beyond simplistic naivete

[Gimel]

7. With Arafat gone

the Palestinian legislature can set about implementing agreements, and using the funds to help the Palestinians establish a state that will consider their needs and promote peace.

I think his time is going. The clock is ticking, and he will be removed in a matter of days, whether he likes it or not.

[Djinn]

8. so with Arafat gone

you think that Palestinians will suddenly LIKE having their homes demolished, suddenly LIKE being forced off their fields and livelihood, suddenly LIKE land theft?

not to mention the certainty that with Arafat who d'you think fills the vacuum, Hamas p'raps?

[Gimel]

9. Implementing agreements

That means stopping terrorism. Because they DON'T like having their homes demolished, the Palestinians are taking control of their own government. Arafat prevents the implementation of agreements to crack down on terrorist organizations.

No one expects them to like having homes demolished.

[IA_Seth]

15. ???

That doesn't makes sense to me.

So Arafat's presence is what is causing the IDF to rampage about the occupied territories? Arafat is what is causing illegal settlements to grow, a barrier built, roads built cutting off Palestinians? I agree that Arafat is not an ideal leader of the Palestinian people, but HE is not the cause of Israel's offenses on the Palestinian people - THAT is what needs to stop for the violence to stop.

If Arafat is removed violently by the IDF he will become a martyr and it will begin an era of violence like none seen before. I hope this is not something ANY sane person would wish for.

[Gimel]

17. Points to remember

Arafat's inability or unwillingness to stop terrorism that originates from the PA (note this middle step in the logic) necessitated that Israel take measures to stop terrorism. The military actions in the WB, such as road blocks and now the barrier, are tools to arrest and thwart terrorism. If Arafat had himself ordered the arrests, set up roadblocks and prevented terrorists from striking Israeli civilians (about 700 dead civilians in 3 years), then there would be no call to remove him.

I don't think that Israel will assassinate Arafat. I am not wishing for that. I do think his time is up, and there will be removal, either by someone in his own forces, or by natural causes.

[bemildred]

3. Yeah, those security forces just need to go out and beat

the terrorists into submission with their bare hands ...

[Gimel]

10. Weapons are being allowed

on a trial basis. There seems to be no shortage of them anyway.

[bemildred]

11. The stories are a bit confusing, but

my point is that the public dialog on the subject
is brain-dead on it's face. The PNA is on the one hand
supposed to stop the terrorists and on the other hand
we have an argument about whether they are allowed weapons.
Hello?

[Gimel]

12. The agreements set up from Oslo

The Oslo Accords set up a PA police force that was armed with reasonable weapons and a joint patrol with Israeli police and border guards. That was scrapped when the attacks started and the operation to arrest terrorists began in April 2002. So there were several years in which the police were armed, but failed to arrest the terrorists.

[bemildred]

13. That's all fine.

I'm just saying if you won't give them guns, stop whining
because they don't stop the terrorists. Be consistent.

[Gimel]

16. whining has turned to action

Long ago Israel gave up on the Palestinians doing anything. That is the reason for the invasion.