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Nablus Mayor Resigns
RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) - The mayor of the West Bank’s largest city has resigned, accusing Yasser Arafat’s Palestinian Authority on Friday of letting Nablus descend into lawlessness.
Letting? Yasser aided and abetted the descent!
The announcement came as a major blow to Arafat as he tries to stem demands for change in his Fatah movement. The Palestinian leader agreed Friday to hold Fatah elections within a year. But disgruntled younger activists said they doubt he will keep his word.
No! Whatever makes you think that?
Nablus Mayor Ghassan Shakaa told The Associated Press that he has submitted his resignation to protest what he called was the failure of Palestinian leaders and security forces to crackdown on vilolence inside Palestinian areas. "I see my city collapsing and I don’t want to die stand idly by and watch this collapse," Shakaa said. "My resignation is a warning bell to the Palestinian Authority and the residents of Nablus, because both of them are doing nothing for this city."
Perhaps because one can't and the other won't.
Palestinian gun-toting idjits police forces have been hobbled during more than three years of fighting with Israel. With no real authority on the streets, gangs wage deadly gunbattles, members of rival clans fight out deadly feuds and militants have kidnapped and beaten government officials. In November, Palestinian gunmen shot and killed Shakaa’s brother and there have been no arrests.
"Legume! Arrest that man!"
"What is the charge, Inspector?"
"He is one of the usual suspects, we need no charge."
"But he has a very large rifle, and he’s pointing it at us!"
"Perhaps we’re being hasty, Legume."
Ghassan Shakaa said his brother’s slaying and the failure to apprehend the killers were not the reasons behind his resignation.
"Please don’t kill me next!"
But he said the security forces under the control of Arafat’s Palestinian Authority could do more to bring order to the city. "It can enforce the law," he said. "But it is not enforcing the law. And our people can do a lot, but they are doing nothing except spreading disorder."
Well sure, they’re Paleostinians, what did you expect?
Shakaa said he would stay on as head of the city until May 1 because he is involved in several projects he wants to finish, including the construction of a shopping mall.
So he needs to keep his vigorish for a while yet.
Posted by: Steve White 2004-02-28
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=27059