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Fatah names most members of new PA Cabinet, dumps Dahlan
EFL/FU; Arafat retains control, says: "Come and get me coppers!"
Yasser Arafatâs Fatah party on Saturday put together a new Palestinian Cabinet, replacing a U.S.-backed security chief with an Arafat loyalist and bringing in nearly a dozen new faces from Fatah and smaller terrorists factions.
With the ouster of security chief Mohammed Dahlan, it appears even less likely snowball in hell that the Palestinian security forces will begin dismantling militant groups, as required by the U.S.-backed "road map" peace plan. Israel has said it will not move on the plan unless such action is taken.
| They're simply going to refuse to do it. If they were to try, Hamas would fight them, and they're not convinced they would win. They're counting on the EU finding a way for a Paleo state to come into being without that happening. And they might be right. The subsequent Paleostate would be dedicated to the destruction of Israel, with a Baathist-style dictatorship... |
In the Gaza Strip, about 1,000 Dahlan supporters staged a protest, burning pictures of Fatah officials. I smell dissension
The Cabinet formation came a day after a Palestinian gunman sneaked into a Jewish West Bank settlement where residents were celebrating the start of the Jewish New Year, knocked on the door of a trailer home and shot and killed a man and a baby girl. It was the first deadly attack by Palestinians since Israelâs security Cabinet decided Sept. 11 to remove Arafat from this Earth. Israel has not said when it would take action against the Palestinian leader, but it is believed the trigger could be a major Palestinian terror attack with many Israeli casualties.
| Like I say, the next bus goes, Yasser's helizapped. Meanwhile, the bad guys will be trying to probe the limits... |
Israel and the United States have been trying to sideline Arafat, accusing him of encouraging terror attacks and blocking peace efforts. However, Arafat retains significant power, and the incoming Palestinian puppet prime minister, Ahmed Qurei, has given the Arafat-controlled Fatah movement considerable say in forming the Cabinet.
"Please donât kill me!"
On Saturday, Fatah leaders named 23 ministers of the Cabinet. The remaining one to three slots will be filled in coming days, and the Cabinet then will be presented to the Palestinian parliament for approval. In a reflection of Arafatâs sway over the process, a longtime ally, Maj. Gen. Nasser Yousef, was named to the post of interior minister, putting him in charge of the security forces.
| That was after Yasser spit on him... |
Outgoing Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas had held the title of interior minister in his government, but the security chief in effect was Dahlan, who enjoyed U.S. support, even though he also backed away from cracking down on militants. During Abbasâ four months in office, Arafat was constantly wrangling with his prime minister over control of the security forces. Arafat commanded four branches, and Abbas — as interior minister — had control over the other four.
why are there 8 security branches in a corrupt half-state with no army, navy, or air force? Arafatâs in charge? nevermind
The split paralyzed Abbas and made it impossible for him to take any action against the militants, even largely symbolic moves that might have been considered by Washington as partial implementation of the road map. Abbas, like other Palestinian officials, has said he would not confront the militants, for fear of sparking internal fighting.
| And getting himself and his family killed... |
Under the new arrangement, Arafat heads a 12-member national security council that will set policy and work with the interior minister. Yousef has worked with Arafat for nearly four decades. Several Arafat supporters, including Yasser Abed Rabbo and Saeb Erekat, were brought back into the Cabinet, after Abbas kept them out of his government. Two ministers with international support, Nabil Shaath and Salam Fayad, kept their jobs as foreign and finance ministers, respectively. Fatah named several younger leaders to the Cabinet. Several smaller factions were also represented, though major opposition groups, particularly the Islamic militant Hamas, stuck to their refusal to join the Palestinian Authority. Israel has said it would not deal with an Arafat-controlled Cabinet. However, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said in an interview Friday with the Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot that Qurei will be judged on his deeds.
| Which will be tentative, to say the least... |
Though there was no claim of responsibility for Fridayâs shooting in Negahot, Israeli government officials blamed the Palestinian Authority for not stopping such violence. "We have information that the Palestinian Authority has not been doing anything in the last few decades days to deter these terrorist organizations from carrying out their atrocities during the religious holidays," said Avi Pazner, an Israeli government spokesman.
Posted by: Frank G 2003-09-27 |
