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| Middle East |
| Arafat Signs Legislation for PM Position |
| 2003-03-18 |
| Yasser Arafat signed legislation Tuesday creating the position of prime minister in a major step toward U.S.-sought reforms. Arafat is expected to offer the job to the No. 2 leader in the PLO, Mahmoud Abbas. Abbas, a moderate who has spoken out against the armed uprising against Israel, is the prime minister favored by the United States and Israel. Palestinian legislators cast their ballots in a watershed vote that signaled a further weakening of Arafat's influence — a process that began about a year ago amid growing dissatisfaction among Palestinians with his leadership. That was after the Israelis beat the snot out of them and Yesser couldn't do anything about it... "It's the beginning of a transition — it is certainly a turning point and a qualitative shift in the political culture," legislator Hanan Ashrawi said. "Now we have power-sharing that is clearly spelled out." Arafat has been wrangling with the increasingly assertive parliament over giving some of his sweeping powers to a prime minister. Arafat reluctantly agreed to create the new position under international pressure. But even with the reforms, Arafat will retain control over security forces and peace talks with Israel. Not directly so, on the peace talks. Y'gotta watch those parliaments. Sometimes they lose their rubber stamps... |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |
| #1 Tony Blair might be available, is 10:00 tonight too late to get his name on the ballot? |
| Posted by: becky 2003-03-18 13:43:04 |