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| Middle East |
| Naming of Palestinian Government Delayed |
| 2003-04-10 |
| The newly appointed Palestinian prime minister delayed naming his government Wednesday because of a dispute with Yasser Arafat over who should be in charge of the region's security forces. Heh, I wonder what the dispute is about. Prime minister-designate Mahmoud Abbas' delay came amid renewed violence, as five Palestinians, including a 16-year-old boy, were killed during clashes with Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip. On Thursday, two Israelis were killed in a shooting attack near the settlement of Bekaot in the northern West Bank, the army said. Soldiers fatally shot the two gunmen, who apparently were Apparently? If they weren't wearing mukluks I think we can safely guess who these two hard boys were. The choice for the post of interior minister could determine the credibility of a new government, which Western mediators and Israel hope will crack down on Palestinian militants. Abbas favors former Gaza strongman Mohammed Dahlan, who also is backed by international mediators and is seen as likely to try to rein in militants. So that he can put his own thugs in charge, of course. Arafat wants to retain his longtime aide Hani al-Hassan, who has served as interior minister for months but has made no serious move toward reforms. But he's Yasser's boy! Doesn't that count for something? Forming the new Cabinet is a condition for the publication of a U.S.-backed ``road map'' to Palestinian statehood. Arafat said a new Cabinet likely would be named by Saturday, despite the extension. Otherwise he'll just kill Abbas and take charge. Abbas asked Arafat on Wednesday for a two-week extension and Arafat agreed, said Arafat Birds of a feather. Joschka may want to forget his Red past, but we won't. Israel had urged Fischer not to meet with the Palestinian leader. Israel and the United States have refused to meet with Arafat, charging that he is implicated in terrorism. Fischer said Germany supported the road map, which calls for statehood by 2005 and was developed several months ago by the so-called ``Quartet'' of the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations. Wonder if Abbas has been watching TV lately? |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #3 I've been pleasantly surprised that Abbas has at least appeared to be resisting Arafat. He threatened to quit a few days ago. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-04-10 12:14:46 |
| #2 THIS guy? Oh wow. This is typical ... and scary. |
| Posted by: Tadderly 2003-04-10 08:23:51 |
| #1 Joschka and Yasser of course go way back... |
| Posted by: someone 2003-04-10 01:49:37 |