whats up with arafat

[martinexsquaddie]

seems the PA is going **** up big style :(
although arafat always struck be as not really up to the job this implosion can't be any good for the palenstians or there neighbours. he's even started bad mouthing the UN. Looks like the beginning of some sort of end game can't see this leading anyway but more pain for all comcerned :(

[Moledet]

I hope that the PA will collapse, becase then Sharon's plan will be canceled (if the PA won't control Gaza we will control it).
And I won't get beaten up by the police.

[DE_Six]

Arafat is power-drunk. His appointed prime minister, Ahmad Qorei, is quitting on him after only 10 months in office because Arafat refuses to delegate any authority. Qorei was his only hope to resume talks with Israel, and he displayed good will, but Arafat is more concerned about staying in complete power than by the fate of his people. :|

[budanski]

"The Palestinian people does not exist. The creation of a Palestinian state is only a means for continuing our struggle against the state of Israel for our Arab unity. In reality today there is no difference between Jordanians, Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese. Only for political and tactical reasons do we speak today about the existence of a Palestinian people, since Arab national interests demand that we posit the existence of a distinct 'Palestinian people' to oppose Zionism."
--- PLO executive committee member Zahir Muhsein on March 31, 1977

[Felix]

"The Palestinian people does not exist. The creation of a Palestinian state is only a means for continuing our struggle against the state of Israel for our Arab unity. In reality today there is no difference between Jordanians, Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese. Only for political and tactical reasons do we speak today about the existence of a Palestinian people, since Arab national interests demand that we posit the existence of a distinct 'Palestinian people' to oppose Zionism."
--- PLO executive committee member Zahir Muhsein on March 31, 1977


-This is such bull****...i hope this guy didn't actually believe it. If that were true, would Jordanians and Palestinians have been involved in ferocious clashes during black september? Would the civil war in Lebanon, in which LEBANESE and PALESTINIANS spent the better part of 15 years killing each other, have happened? What a tool.

[SeanAshi]

Those were christians and muslims killing each other

[UoUo]

As long as they killing each other and not killing Israelis..it's fine by me.

[Kilgor]

Arafat is also a master thief, has stolen millions from PA funds yet claims to have the best interest of the palistinian people at heart.

Someone should have wasted him years ago.

"Forbes magazine, which has compiled the list of the richest kings, queens and despots and published it in its latest issue, puts Mr Arafat's holdings at $US300 million ($A489.32 million) and Mr Castro's at $US110 million. "

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/03/04/1046540194782.html?oneclick=true

[Tane Angle]

Sean, no offense and with all due respect, but religion had about jack "squat" to do with the fighting in Lebanon. Try economics and lack of equal representation for starters. Probably the most violent and ruthless fighting was between the Phalange and other Christian militias, though the Southern Supremacy War between the Party of God and Amal was extremely fierce as well. Religion had almost nothing to do with the fighting. It is that very idea that screwed US-and Israeli-troops over, not to mention the Lebanese civilians. President Reagan thought it was a crusade, a battle between good and evil. Many Israeli decision-makers thought so too. It wasn't about religion. It never was.

Have a good one, and just some thoughts...

[SeanAshi]

Arafat is also a master thief, has stolen millions from PA funds yet claims to have the best interest of the palistinian people at heart.
Last I heard its in the billions.

[Felix]

Sean,

I understand your point that at points, it was muslims and christians. But it was never about religion, as stated in Tane's post. There were over 45 factions fighting in Lebanon at the peak. Christians allied themselves with muslims sometimes to fight other christians...etc..etc, any number of combinations occured. Muslims went at it all the time....the Palestinians fought the Syrian invasion in 1977, including knocking out 15 tanks in one engagement. Amal and Hezbollah, two MUSLIM movements, had a very bloody episode in 1985.

-Felix

[Nizark]

And finally it looks like the militants and the people are on the same side against arafat. Maybe someone can suicide bomb him

[martinexsquaddie]

so arafat get replaced by iran in gaza that can't be good for any one :roll:
whats arafat do with all his cash :roll:

[Sayeret]

If that were true, would Jordanians and Palestinians have been involved in ferocious clashes during black september?

Actually many people from many of the same countries fight in civil wars.

[SpikeATGM]

All his so called "prime minster" are just his puppet. Even his own collegue can't get along with him. How can anyone expect Israel to deal with him?

[gilgoul]

so arafat get replaced by iran in gaza that can't be good for any one :roll:
whats arafat do with all his cash :roll:

Beside a fat swiss account, his wife suwa lives in a luxuous htel in Paris ( :cantbeli: i don`t remember wich one), with a suite of 40 people at a cost of 3 million dollars a month.
t is believed too that he `s funding some terror activity from both personal and official funds.

[Flagg]

So can someone answer the following questions:

What is to be made of recent PA unrest AGAINST Arafat?

I have always assumed that ANY protest against Arafat ,directly or indirectly, poses a considerable threat to his authority.

Is he in danger of being removed from power?

How has he managed to remain in power thus far, when his people are dirt poor, his actions prevent this from changing, and opportunity to effect real change has not be capitalized on?

Is Arafat's demise a good thing or a bad thing(going along the lines of a known enemy being better than an unknown)?

I've always assumed Israel didn't give Arafat a "dirt nap" over the years to avoid making him a martyr, or because he's a lesser threat than any likely successor.

Are any of Arafat's subordinates likely to fill his shoes or does he cull anyone/everyone who has posed any threat to his power?



Last I heard its in the billions.

I find it hard to believe that Arafat could have amassed THAT much wealth without drawing the lethal ire of his "cause".

But on that note........using a lower, more credible figure from Forbes, why hasn't Israel dug up the dirt on Arafat's stolen wealth and effectively presented it to the world, and most importantly, his people?

I would think the story possesses all of the elements required to make the cover of a respected mag or paper.....I recall recently reading a BIG spread about Iran's mullahs and their nepotistic corruption.

Unless it's NOT in Israel's best interest to undermine/depose Arafat.

Well now I've thoroughly confused myself. rofl

[sgt.pepper]

hmm.. those clashes can be explained as a internal palestinian conflict,between old ex-tunis arafat leadership and young more pragmatic pretenders who grown in the territories ruled by us,it's all about the power ,the question is who will rule the gaza strip and in the future west bank after israeli withdrawal.

[sgt.pepper]

hmm.. those clashes can be explained as a internal palestinian conflict,between old ex-tunis arafat leadership and young more pragmatic pretenders who grown in the territories ruled by us,it's all about the power ,the question is who will rule the gaza strip and in the future west bank after israeli withdrawal.

[SeanAshi]

Arafat's personal wealth, assessed by security officials as tens of billions of dollars, stems from his days as head of the terrorist Palestine Liberation Organization, when he transferred funds he received from various countries for the organization to his private bank accounts in Switzerland, the US, and Europe.

[Flagg]

Arafat's personal wealth, assessed by security officials as tens of billions of dollars, stems from his days as head of the terrorist Palestine Liberation Organization, when he transferred funds he received from various countries for the organization to his private bank accounts in Switzerland, the US, and Europe.

No offense, but Forbes places him in hundreds of millions.....a much more realistic figure than "tens of billions."

It's not like Arafat had the natural resources to plunder...he had the largess of nations wishing to use the PLO as their vehicle for striking Israel.

I don't buy it.....total PLO revenue since inception would likely be less than "tens of billions", so how could he skim MORE than total likely receivables?

got any decent sources?

[il31]

"
No offense, but Forbes places him in hundreds of millions.....a much more realistic figure than "tens of billions."

It's not like Arafat had the natural resources to plunder...he had the largess of nations wishing to use the PLO as their vehicle for striking Israel.

I don't buy it.....total PLO revenue since inception would likely be less than "tens of billions", so how could he skim MORE than total likely receivables?

got any decent sources?"

decent sources !! :)
http://www.intelligence.org.il/eng/default.htm