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Israel-Palestine | ||
Arab columnist urges Arafat to quit | ||
2004-05-17 | ||
May. 16, 2004 22:56 By KHALED ABU TOAMEH= Jihad al-Khazen, a prominent columnist and former editor-in-chief of the London-based, Saudi-owned daily Al-Hayat, has called on Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat to resign to pave the way for a young leadership to take over. His call came in an open letter to Arafat published in Al-Hayat, one of the Arab world’s leading newspapers. He also accused Arafat of driving the Palestinian cause to a dead end. Memo to Nobel Committee: Front runner for Understatment Medal. "Our dear brother Yasser Arafat, I suggest that you resign," Khazen, who describes himself as a longtime friend of the PA chairman, wrote. "You have done your best. It is time to give the wheel to younger hands. The American administration wants you to leave the scene, and Ariel Sharon wants to kill you. And for all the right reasons. The reasons of both are known. They took a stance from you based on enmity. I came to this conclusion out of love. I am worried about you." Khazen cited Arafat’s age and health as good reasons why he should step down. "You are not young anymore," he wrote. "You are not in the best of health. Your cause is weaker than you are. And Arafat is wholly responsible for weakening the Palestinian cause. It needs a brilliant mind and hands that do not shake. I ask you to resign because I am your friend. I wish you well and I want your cause to live." Many do not, and rightfully so. He advised Arafat to resign while he is still popular among his people. "You are a democratically elected president," Khazen noted.
"If presidential elections were held in the Palestinian territories tomorrow, you would win again with a sweeping majority. That is why I hope you would leave the presidency in your moment of strength, not weakness. This way, you would always be the father of the revolution and Sounds a lot like complicity to me. "I saw you at the Wahadat camp, then at Al-Fakhani camp. I saw you in London, Washington, Paris, and Davos. Our friendship did not falter in the face of the revolution’s mistakes in Jordan and Lebanon. I was in Washington during the Israeli invasion. I saw you Or, evidently, the horrendous murder committed in his name. "What you and we are suffering is A scintilla of truth finally leaks out from around the edges of this sob sister’s story. This is the truth. You are besieged with the cause. "Do I hear you standing to say: I tried my best, I was right and made mistakes, and I brought back the name of Palestine on the map? Do I hear you say: I resign, and I move out of the way of a leadership which could transfer the name from the map to the land of Palestine? Over 37 years with you, I never doubted your patriotism, and I am not today. You are No matter how much Arafat continues to be exactly that. "I do not care what the enemies say. I care about you. However, I care more about the Palestinian cause, which must be more important to you than yourself. Something Arafat is utterly incapable of realizing. Nevertheless, you did your You folks in Oslo getting all of this? "My friend, resign. Enough is enough. Do it and give yourself a chance. Give the cause a chance EMPAHSIS ADDED | ||
Posted by:Zenster |
#2 "Arab journalist shot by masked gunmen; had called for Arafat's resignation" |
Posted by: sf 2004-05-17 1:21:25 PM |
#1 He will not listen. The word "shahid" is written on his forhead. The old fart has long left any consideration for his miserable people behind him. He will go down history's garbage-can as the president who destroyed his people. We (at the IDF) will finally have to assist him to achieve the 72 virgins. prepare the MOAB ! |
Posted by: The Dodo 2004-05-17 12:04:01 PM |