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| Middle East |
| Palestinian legislator: Yasser Arafat loves only Yasser Arafat |
| 2002-05-16 |
| Palestinian legislators are working today on a proposal for sweeping reforms in the Palestinian Authority - in response to Chairman Yasser Arafat's statement Wednesday that he was open to changes, including preparations for elections. Under a plan proposed by legislators from Arafat's Fatah movement, municipal and parliamentary elections would be held in the fall. A prime minister would be placed in charge of day-to-day government operations, and several rival branches of the security forces would be merged into one service. What is this? Real actions? US President George W. Bush views Arafat's promise as positive but wants "to see action more than words," said White House spokesman Ari Fleischer. Arafat promised in the past to change his autocratic leadership style and share some of the power, but never kept his word. His Palestinian critics said were skeptical about his new promises, noting that they had no means to force reforms. Autocrats tend to give up power about the same time the embalmers arrive... In Ramallah, legislators met for a second day today to put together a reform proposal to be submitted to Arafat. Hatem Abdel Khader, a Fatah legislator, said he and his colleagues would not settle for cosmetic changes this time. "President Arafat will stay the president and the symbol of our authority, but he has to distribute some of his responsibilities," Abdel Khader said. Yow. The crowbar corps' gonna be looking for him! Others said they were skeptical Arafat would carry out any reforms, noting that the Palestinian leader has resisted change. "Yasser Arafat loves only Yasser Arafat, and his looking for personal benefits," said legislator Hassan Khreisheh. And his car's toast. And him with it. And maybe his kids, too... |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |