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Arafat criticized by acting PM manuvering for corpse position
EFL
Qureia repudiates Arafat’s choice for acting interior minister
The new Palestinian premier on Tuesday publicly repudiated Yasser Arafat’s choice for the powerful post of interior minister, escalating a bitter quarrel that has cast doubt on prospects for reviving a stalled U.S.-backed peace plan.
but sheds much light on the struggle to have the right allies when Arafats dies
The latest spat began when Arafat appointed longtime confidant Hakam Balawi as acting interior minister. But on Tuesday, after a meeting of the Palestinian National Security Council, Qurei was asked if Hakam Balawi was the acting interior minister. Qurei said, "No."
"Him? I don't even like him. Why should he be interior minister?"
"The National Security Council will take over the role of interior minister until the end of term of the interim government," Qurei added, indicating that the Arafat-led Council will temporarily be in control of Palestinian security forces.
It will be very important to have as much muscle as possible on post Arafat day.
Arafat reconfirmed Balawi’s appointment Tuesday. "He (Balawi) is not interior minister, but acting interior minister," said Arafat at his Ramallah compound. Qurei had supported another candidate, Nasser Yousef, for the job, and his disagreement with Arafat over the position led to a fallout between the two.
Too bad Luca Brasi isn’t available.
Posted by: mhw 2003-10-14
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=19877