BBC Profile: Ahmed Qurei (Palestinian PM-designate)

[Jack Rabbit]

From the BBC Online
Dated Monday September 8

Profile: Ahmed Qurei
By Fiona Symon
Middle East analyst

Ahmed Qurei, also known as Abu Ala, is the Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council and seen as a loyal ally of Yasser Arafat.
A leading member of Mr Arafat's mainstream Fatah faction, he was one of the architects of the Oslo peace accords signed with Israel in 1993, which led to Palestinian autonomy in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Regarded as a moderate and a pragmatist, he is a banker by trade . . . .
When the PLO was forced out of Lebanon, Abu Ala went to Tunis with Mr Arafat. With the death or assassination of other senior PLO leaders, he gradually gained more influence until he was elected a member of the Fatah central committee in 1989.
That marked the start of his political career, and he began to play an increasing role in peace negotiations.
After playing a key role in the secret Oslo talks he continued to participate in numerous negotiations with the Israelis.

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[newyorican]

1. Next batter...

problem is, the pitcher is throwing spitballs.

[psyche777]

2. road map

Thank you for the profile. I find it interesting that as Abbas was trying to garner support it was said by Israel and the US that Abbas was key to the roadmap. Now that he has resigned that verbage is being changed. Will Ala get the needed power? That will be the next question. Will the US and Israel support him more than the did Abbas? What Abbas tried to do was the equivalent of holding a flashlight in the middle of the last blackout and say "here is the light".

If Israel continues the targeted killings it will not matter who has been placed in this position in Palestine. Also how Arafat portrays the next person in the Palestine media is important as well. If the next person is also labeled a "tool" of the US and Israel it is a kiss of death. Obviously Abbas and Arafat could not find a way to work together and possibly causing the end of the road map was worth it to them. Let's hope the next one will be better received not only by Arafat but by the rest of the quartet as well.