Arab News on Yassir Trapped in Ramallah

[Gonzo]

In all fairness, here's the Arabs view on the whole mess. They seem to actually like Mr Arafat. Isn't politics wonderful.

Israeli outrages get US backing
By Nazir Majally, Arab News Staff


RAMALLAH, West Bank, 30 March — In the most dramatic day yet of the 18-month intifada against the Israeli occupation, which Palestinian leaders unanimously declared to be all-out war against their people, Israeli tanks and troops yesterday smashed their way into Palestinian chief Yasser Arafat’s compound, arresting more than 70 Palestinians. Seven Palestinians were killed in the initial assault, and 40 were injured.

Shortly afterward, a rocket reduced much of the compound itself to rubble, and Arafat’s own private office was sprayed with machine-gun fire.

Reports coming from a basement office in which Arafat, his aides and body guards had taken refuge spoke of the Palestinian Authority chief being ready for any eventuality, his gun cocked and ready in his hand. Once again, the dominant image was of a fragile man taking on the might of the Israeli military machine with total defiance.

“I will be a martyr,” he said in a telephone interview at the height of the drama, which has once again focused the world’s attention on the plight of his people. The whole of the Arab world remained glued to their television screen throughout yesterday. As Arafat was speaking, dozens of Israeli tanks, troops and helicopters were reported to have taken control of the whole city of Ramallah, where Arafat’s compound is based.

The Israeli “response” to the Middle East “crisis” unsurprisingly drew sympathy and understanding from Israel’s military, political and economic backer the United States, with Secretary of State Colin Powell placing the blame for the upsurge in violence squarely at the door of the Palestinian bombers.

 

[s4]

I think the Israeli leadership has an opportunity to show everyone including the Palastinians what they are really about. If they take out Arafat, it will only show the Palastinian cause of being just. However, if they were to convince Arafat without harming him that they want to hold peace talks with him, they could prove that they are not wanting more violence.

There has to be someone that will set an example to show that they do not want war. War only begets more war. If there is to be real lasting peace it must begin with men and women, not with large amounts of troops.

(s4 is reminded that Clint Eastwood already said this in the Outlaw Josey Whales) -- but it sounded good and it also sounded like the truth

 

[Gato_Solo]

s4...the only reason that Israel went into the Palestinian-controlled areas at all is because of the suicide bombings. Every time the Israeli's start to withdraw, the Palestinians seem to have this penchant for attacking them. Yassar Arafat, while asking for peace in English, screams for blood in Arabic. The population of Israel is small, and they are surrounded by intolerant, if not hostile, neighbors. The end result is a country with an inferiority complex surrounded by countries that re-inforce that complex. Hell...if the Arab states, and the Palestinians, were to actually leave Israel alone, their government would probably collapse under the weight of it's own divisiveness, but Yassar Arafat, and his goon squads, will never let that happen, because HIS people get money, arms, and sympathy playing the part of victim.

 

[s4]

I was about half asleep when I wrote that the other night. Since that time, I no longer believe peace is going to be possible until those militant groups that keep it going are destroyed. Since that is unlikely in that they operate from other countries, I do not think peace can be achieved or at least not any time soon.

 

[Gonzo]

*RUMOR* I still need to check for verification, if it's available

US SpecOPs are assisting the Israeli Military look for & arrest terrorists in the West Bank