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| Middle East |
| Yasser may fall without a push |
| 2002-07-08 |
| The Israeli General Staff has reached the conclusion that Arafat's stature is dropping so precipitously that there is no need for Israel to push him out of the territories. This analysis, following President George W. Bush's speech, has been presented to the political echelon. It says Arafat's prestige has been so damaged that there is no need for action on Israel's part to expel him. A senior military source told Ha'aretz that "chances are increasing that within six months, Arafat's standing will have declined so much that he won't be able to prevent a new, pragmatic leadership from emerging, which will lead the Palestinians to a compromise with Israel." I'm not positive about the "new, pragmatic leadership." I think they're going to end up with Rajoub or Dahlan or Barghouti, or someone along that line. I do think Whatsisname will go, through a combination of declining prestige — for instance, the guys he fires refusing to leave and the organizations (loosely defined) the nominees are supposed to take over refusing to accept them — and his advancing senility. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |