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IntrepidIsMe
Pimp Handed
Joined: 14 Jun 2002
Posts: 13057
Location: New York
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 Fri Sep 12, 2003 9:17 pm Israel wants to Expel Arafat |
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| Quote: | U.S. urges Israel not to expel Arafat
U.S. concerned conflict would 'blow up wide open'
Friday, September 12, 2003 Posted: 6:51 PM EDT (2251 GMT)
Yasser Arafat flashes a victory sign to supporters while entering his compound after Friday prayers in Ramallah.
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Concerned the expulsion of Yasser Arafat would crush efforts to make peace in the Middle East, the Bush administration is pressuring Israel not to expel the Palestinian leader, State Department officials said.
"We worry this would blow up wide open," one official said. "It would have serious repercussions, not only in the Palestinian territories, but also throughout the region and with efforts to make peace."
Hundreds of Palestinian Muslim youths leaving noon prayers in Jerusalem on Friday threw stones at Jews praying at the Western Wall, the holiest site of Judaism, to protest any Israeli action against Arafat.
Police dispersed the crowd with tear gas and stun guns. No one was injured, they said.
Palestinian demonstrations began hours after Israel's security Cabinet Thursday said Arafat must be removed because he is an obstacle to peace. The Cabinet did not specify when, how or if the government would force out the Palestinian leader.
The U.S. officials said Secretary of State Colin Powell worked the phones Friday, speaking with Israeli, Palestinian and Arab foreign ministers.
In a conversation with Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, Powell reiterated the U.S. position that Arafat's expulsion would not be helpful.
"It wouldn't be constructive," another senior official said. "Not only would it give him a soapbox from which to speak on, it detracts from the task at hand, which is getting a [Palestinian] prime minister with authority."
During a conversation with acting Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath, Powell said the United States was working to dissuade Israel from expelling Arafat. A U.S. official said he spoke of the need for incoming Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei to be given authority over all Palestinian finances and security services, and said recent talk of consolidating the security services under Arafat would not be constructive.
Powell told both men that the parties need to get back to meeting their commitments to the U.S.-backed "road map" for Middle East peace, the official said.
The Israeli policy statement is the latest in series of incidents this summer that have cast a shadow over the chances for success of that plan.
The road map appears buried under repeated Palestinian terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians and Israeli strikes on Palestinian extremist group members that also have killed bystanders.
The plan -- backed by the United States, United Nations, European Union and Russia -- aims to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and establish an independent Palestinian state by 2005.
Powell also spoke with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher and Jordanian Foreign Minister Marwan Muasher, assuring them the U.S. was engaged with the parties and is trying to calm the situation, the official added.
An official said U.S. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice called her Israeli counterpart Dov Weisglass and urged Israel to reconsider its decision.
The newly formed Palestinian National Security Council met Friday with Arafat to discuss the stepped-up pressure from Israel. Shaath said Israel "has shot itself in the foot diplomatically" by resolving to oust the Palestinian leader.
The council also renewed discussions on unifying Palestinian security forces.
Decision prompts condemnation
In a written statement Friday, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan said: "The forcible transfer of President Arafat is dangerous and counterproductive in a situation of tension and instability in the region."
Britain, France, Russia, Germany and Italy warned that expelling Arafat would be an error and the Arab League said Israel had in effect "declared war" on the peace process, The Associated Press reported.
"We believe it would be a terrible mistake that would have serious consequences across the whole region," European Union spokesman Diego Ojeda told The Associated Press.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak that removing Arafat could have dramatic consequences. Mubarak had told an Italian newspaper this week that Egypt would offer Arafat asylum if Israel expels him, the AP reported.
Britain said Israel should not let anger cloud its judgment.
"I urge Israel not to allow justified anger at the continuing violence to lead to actions that will undermine both the peace process and Israel's own interests," Foreign Secretary Jack Straw told the AP.
Ra'anan Gissin, spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, was asked by CNN on Thursday if the Cabinet's action meant Israel would forcibly remove Arafat from Ramallah.
"It doesn't mean that. The Cabinet has ... resolved to remove this obstacle," Gissin said.
"The time, method -- the ways by which this will take place -- will be decided separately, and the security services will continue to monitor the situation and make the recommendation about the proper action as they have done in the past."
Thousands of enraged Palestinians in Ramallah, Gaza City, Nablus, Tulkarem and Khan Younis took to the streets Thursday night.
Crowds march in Gaza
In Gaza, crowds of Palestinians -- many of them firing rifles and pistols into the air -- marched through the city chanting slogans such as, "With our blood, with our lives, we sacrifice ourselves for you, Arafat" and "Listen, Sharon, Arafat is not going out." (Full story)
In Palestinian-controlled Ramallah, crowds converged on the compound where Arafat has been a virtual prisoner since Israeli troops moved into the city in December 2001.
Arafat's newly designated prime minister, longtime ally Ahmed Qorei, called Israel's decision "dangerous... Israel needs to stop threatening us so we can reach some form of stability," he said.
CNN producers Producer Elise Labott and Sausan Ghosheh and correspondent Matthew Chance contributed to this report. |
CNN
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IntrepidIsMe
Pimp Handed
Joined: 14 Jun 2002
Posts: 13057
Location: New York
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| Fri Sep 12, 2003 9:20 pm |
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What are your views? Do you thing they should keep Arafat, or the world would be better off without him?
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borgslayer
Rear Admiral
Joined: 27 Aug 2003
Posts: 2646
Location: Las Vegas
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| Sat Sep 13, 2003 4:04 pm |
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I will put up my opinion.
I think Israel needs to take Arafat out of power.
(kill him, in prison him, or exile him)
So this way they won't have anymore troubles with him.
Then they should disarm hamas by going after them using troops not missiles and rockets.
After disarm all other militants and terrorist in the region.
After all of these hard work they should rebuild Palestine.
They should also presure other countries to send troops as peace keepers for many years to come.
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Los
Commodore
Joined: 07 Jun 2002
Posts: 1336
Location: Oklahoma fa sho!
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| Tue Sep 16, 2003 8:14 pm |
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Seriously, if Arafat isn't doing his part in keeping those terrorist idiots from bombing people, then kick him out! What good is a leader to his people when he fails at such a task? All he has to do is keep the peace process moving for a nationalized state for Palestine. But as long as retards keep bombing people, the process is forced to the back burner and people's feelings get hurt.
Really, just get rid of him peacably.
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Jeremy
J's Guy
Joined: 03 Oct 2002
Posts: 7823
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
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| Thu Sep 18, 2003 3:18 pm |
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They will have to get rid of him if they want peace. Arrafat used to say that he would rather the jews were wiped out and all the palastines, rather than there be a peace with Israel. Now theres a lot of media pressure its all "peace" calls, but he won't have changed his mind.
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jbi507
Lieutenant Commander
Joined: 12 Sep 2003
Posts: 254
Location: DS9
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| Sat Sep 20, 2003 7:34 pm |
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basically if some one cames to your homeland and took it over i dont think u would be happy about, so saying that arfat is a terriost leading man and wat not, it takes two to tango, its not like the isralie pm is doing anything to help the situation, only taking the U.S.'s money aid to get new weapons and kill more palestines.
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Jeremy
J's Guy
Joined: 03 Oct 2002
Posts: 7823
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
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| Mon Sep 22, 2003 3:09 pm |
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I think the point is on terrorism, and not on fighting. Israels incursions are official, but it's a terrorist network for the palastinian people. Also it wasn't their homeland before. The Jews seem to be quite peaceful in some senses though, such as was shown in the 6 day war.
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jbi507
Lieutenant Commander
Joined: 12 Sep 2003
Posts: 254
Location: DS9
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| Tue Sep 23, 2003 10:16 am |
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yeh yeh sure, if u say so
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Jeremy
J's Guy
Joined: 03 Oct 2002
Posts: 7823
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
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| Tue Sep 23, 2003 1:46 pm |
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If you don't agree with it just say...
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Los
Commodore
Joined: 07 Jun 2002
Posts: 1336
Location: Oklahoma fa sho!
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| Sun Oct 05, 2003 3:19 pm |
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| jbi507 wrote: | | basically if some one cames to your homeland and took it over i dont think u would be happy about, so saying that arfat is a terriost leading man and wat not, it takes two to tango, its not like the isralie pm is doing anything to help the situation, only taking the U.S.'s money aid to get new weapons and kill more palestines. |
No one took Palestine's home. They aren't even remotely related to the Palestinians that dwelled in the land some 2000 years ago. Its a name now and since no other country wants them, they figure, why not take it out on Israel.
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Jeremy
J's Guy
Joined: 03 Oct 2002
Posts: 7823
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
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| Mon Oct 06, 2003 2:24 pm |
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They would also then get the support of the arabs around about, as they hate the Jews. That strike on Syria could cause a huge uproar though.
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Los
Commodore
Joined: 07 Jun 2002
Posts: 1336
Location: Oklahoma fa sho!
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| Mon Oct 06, 2003 3:53 pm |
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| 1Jer wrote: | | They would also then get the support of the arabs around about, as they hate the Jews. That strike on Syria could cause a huge uproar though. |
Ah, someone sees the political intrigue in this.
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Theresa
Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001
Posts: 27256
Location: United States of America
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| Wed Oct 08, 2003 10:31 pm |
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The strike on Syria has sure shaken things up. US still standing beside Israel, though. We'd be hypocrites if we didn't.
-------signature-------
Some of us fall by the wayside
And some of us soar to the stars
And some of us sail through our troubles
And some have to live with our scars
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davecenter
Commander
Joined: 22 Oct 2003
Posts: 391
Location: The Bridge
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| Thu Oct 30, 2003 9:41 am |
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| Los wrote: | Seriously, if Arafat isn't doing his part in keeping those terrorist idiots from bombing people, then kick him out! What good is a leader to his people when he fails at such a task? All he has to do is keep the peace process moving for a nationalized state for Palestine. But as long as retards keep bombing people, the process is forced to the back burner and people's feelings get hurt.
Really, just get rid of him peacably. |
Hey, believe me. Behind each suicide bombing is a man named Arafat. And you all are right. Palestine has no right to exist as a country. And if they want a country, they should have to show that they earned it. And that doesn't mean bombs.
-------signature-------
Some think they are great, some want to be great, but very few are truly great
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MachoMan
Junior Cadet
Joined: 20 Oct 2003
Posts: 16
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| Tue Nov 04, 2003 12:38 am |
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I think both palestina and israel should look at their own deeds, at least reconigize that what they are doing isn't solving anything and that it's just a spiral of violence. Then work it out togheter. End of story, don't think you can get peace in another way, can't hae it forced upon them.
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