Removing Arafat

[Violet_Crumble]

By Uri Avnery

Gush Shalom
14 September, 2003

So now it is official: the government of Israel has decided to assassinate Yasser Arafat.

Not any more to "exile". Not any more to "expel or kill". Simply to "remove".

Of course, the intention is not to remove him to another country. Nobody seriously believes that Yasser Arafat will raise his hands and allow himself to be marched off. He and his men will be killed "during the exchange of fire". This would not be the first time.

<snip>

What will happen afterwards?

Arab leaders say that there will be "incalculable results". But, in truth, the results can be calculated fairly well in advance.

The murder of Arafat will bring about an historic change in the relationship between Israel and the Palestinian people. Since the 1973 war, both peoples have been accepting the idea of a compromise between the two great national movements. In the Oslo agreement, after a process initiated by Yasser Arafat practically alone, the Palestinians gave up 78% of the country that was called Palestine before 1948. They agreed to set up their state in the remaining 22%. Only Arafat had the moral and political standing necessary to carry the people with him, much as Ben-Gurion was able to convince our people to accept the partition plan.

Even in the sharpest crises since then, both peoples have remained steadfast in their belief that in the end there will be a compromise.

The assassination of Arafat will put an end to this, perhaps forever. We shall return to the stage of "all or nothing": Greater Israel or Greater Palestine, throwing the Jews into the sea or pushing the Palestinians out into the desert.

http://www.countercurrents.org/pa-avnery140903.htm

[newyorican]

1. Time to wish Israel a Happy Intifada...

then divest and disengage.

[drdon326]

2. No .... Time to rid the Palestinians of their terrorists.

AS for URI........

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/030913/168/59a44.html

Do you think he swallowed ??

[Resistance]

3. good to see leftists

making a show of peace, rather than hearing right-wing hatemongers cheering for the death of the Palestinian's leader.

[drdon326]

4. Even better to see.....

Liberals against mindless wanton suicide terrorists rather
than sucking up to a bunch of jihadofascists.

[Resistance]

5. LOL

you're funny, doc

[rini]

6. Luv it!!!

[newyorican]

9. When is your flight?

To go "rid the Palestinians of their terrorists".

Do you think he swallowed ??

Doc, you have issues. You are "aroused" by the thought of *beheading* Arafat and the only comment you post on the picture you've linked to is highlighted above. These latent sexual feelings you are expressing are a call for help, which is only a phone call away. Good luck.

[sushi]

7. What could be

the real reason to "remove" Arafat?

I think the Israeli leadership hopes for things to get so bad after they have "removed" Arafat that the Roadmap, which proposes a state for the Palestinians by 2005, will be be postponed for a long time, and hopefully, forgotten altogether, because the Israeli leadership doesn't want a Palestinian state at all. The only Palestinian state Israel will agree to is if it is on Israel's terms, which, they know, will not be acceptable to the Palestinians.

[bemildred]

12. He is the designated scapegoat.

This is a desperate distraction from the fact that the
"military option" has failed to have the intended effect and
the country is going down the crapper because of the cost
of that failed "strategy".

How stupid do you have to be to lose a public relations
war with Arafat?

[tinnypriv]

8. If Avnery is still there when the IDF attacks, he is as good as dead

Gush Shalom is considered extreme left in Israel, so not many would mourn.

Also, Sharon and his ilk have already tried several times to get rid of Avnery and his group, both via legislation, threats of imprisonment etc.

They're already ramping up the justification in the Israeli media right now: "they're violating IDF rules to enter PA-controlled areas" is the standard line.

Get ready for "caught in the crossfire" to be rolled out... :eyes:

Todah Gush Shalom :thumbsup:

[Resistance]

10. you're right about that

Don't forget the "terrorist-supporter" label

[tinnypriv]

11. Yep, here is a selection of some internet comment:

Lunatics:

"They're a disgrace to the Jewish Nation!"

"Kill them all together" (seems a favourite phrase) :crazy:

"The U.S. fined the human shields in Iraq 10k each, we should be at least as harsh as them if not more" (slighty more imaginative) ;-)

"If they lie down with dogs at night he shouldn't be surprised to wake up with fleas in the morning"

Sane:

"This is a courageous action"

"This is like Emilie Zola"