Will this Israeli bombing be the end of Arafat?

[ShaneGR]

19 people, including three children, were killed. This would make it one of the deadliest suicide attacks in the last three years. While I'm no fan of Sharon, I'm also not very happy with Arafat. I kind of think both sides need new people to work this out. That being said, I would not be angry if the Israelis captured Arafat and expelled him from the region. I wouldn't be surprised if they killed him either, though I don't think that is the right thing to do either.

One thing is for sure, Israel will not just sit back and do nothing. Your thoughts?



http://apnews.excite.com/article/20031004/D7TVG1BO0.html

(snip)
HAIFA, Israel (AP) - A Palestinian woman blew herself up in a crowded seaside restaurant at lunchtime Saturday, killing 19 people including three children. It was one of the deadliest attacks in the past three years, prompting new calls for Yasser Arafat's expulsion.

About 40 people were wounded in the attack on the Maxim Restaurant, co-owned by Arabs and Jews in the Mediterranean port of Haifa, an ethnically mixed and tolerant city but also a frequent target for suicide attackers - perhaps because they can easily blend in. Both Arabs and Jews were at the restaurant at the time.

The militant group Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the bombing and said the attacker was 20 years old. The Sabbath attack also came a day ahead of Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon called his advisers for an emergency meeting, and Israel Radio quoted his army chief, Lt. Gen. Moshe Yaalon, as saying there would be a "harsh" response to the bombing after nightfall Saturday.

[Skip Intro]

1. Well, my thoughts are that I smell MIHOP

That is what I thought time as I read about this. Who's agenda benefits from this slaughter? Not Arafat's. As you said in your question, this may be the end for him. And who's goal is that?

I feel the Israeli government may be just as under control of the dark forces in this world as our own appears to be.

[The Magistrate]

7. Who's Agenda Does It Serve, Sir?

It serves the agenda of Islamic Jihad, which carried it out. It gives them status among the most radical, as an effective force in struggle against Zionism, resulting in cash and recruits, all of which bolster the position and pride and prosperity of its leadership. It is a part of an utterly bankrupt strategy indulged in these criminal fools, which is that they will be able to terrify the Jews into departing the region by acts such as this. In examining this situation, it never wise to under-rate the bloody-minded incompetence of the leadership of these radical groups: without that factor, it is quite likely the people of Arab Palestine would long since have achieved statehood, and the region be at peace.

[Darranar]

9. Agreed...

but, of course, it works both ways. The settlements are most certainly not conductive to peace, nor are the all too often indiscriminate bulldozings of houses.

As long as both sides use the other's atrocities as justification for their own, no one will get anywhere.

[The Magistrate]

11. Indeed, My Friend

You are certainly right on that score.

My comment was made to scotch the clear implication by that fellow this attack was somehow the work of the Israeli government: that kind of pernicious bilge is beyond toleration.

[wuushew]

2. Why do you blame Arafat for this attack?

also this topic belongs in the I/P forum

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[The Magistrate]

8. Cute, Ma'am

Except that in discussion of this matter in the Israel v. Palestine forum, comments in favor of the cause of Arab Palestine are numerous, even vociferous, and certainly equal in number, if not greater in number, than comments in favor of the cause of Israel. It may seem a useful debator's ploy to complain of censorious bias, but it is not supported by the facts.

[Aidoneus]

3. he didn't have anything to do with this

PIJ don't acknowledge his rule, don't respect his authority, and don't answer to him; seeing as how Sharon has had him under siege for most of the last 2yrs, there's not a damn thing he could do about his own self, much less anything outside of his thoroughly-trashed headquarters. ...that of course won't stop them from blaming him, however. The Israeli/pro-Israeli press in the next few days will be rabid in their calls for his death. He's the perfect little dog for the fanatics to beat at, a useless puppet with an image constructed across decades. A reaction of vitriolically blaming him for everything (including a foggy sunrise) is reduced to a ritual.

There's perhaps a very direct connection between the recent police state lockdown and racist curfew on the occupied Palestinian lands and this bombing today:--it's terrible, but misery will always appreciate company.

Why aren't pictures of bloodied up Palestinians posted like this? Just the other day the Israelis shot up a coffee shop and killed many innocent people--is it not gory enough to even be widely mentioned?

[LiberalVoice]

4. well...being that I am an arab-american...

and the fact that i know ALOT of palestinians that both visit and live in palestine i can tell you that alot of them dont like him either...he is more a figurehead then anything else. Kinda like sadaam. This is all the people know. Change scares them.

[loudnclear]

5. The woman suicide bomber left a message that this was in retaliation

for the Israelis killing her brother and her cousin. The cover that Israel ususually uses for bombing and killing more Palestinians has been dealt a blow. the US is complicit in this carnage. We send money to Israel and sophisticated planes and weapons with which to brutalize and occupy the Palestinians. The innocent Israeli citizens (Arabs and Jews alike) are suffering for the sins of their evil government leaders. Only and end to occupation and illegal settlements and treating Palestinians with dignity and respect will end the terrorism from both sides. The clarion cry of the Israeli against Palestinians which they used to justify Israeli brutality was that the Palestinians would not recognize the state of Israel. My question is, when will a Palestinian state be established and recognized by the Jews? The Israelis are practicing their own brand of genocide and cultural obliteration and we stand by and support them. We'll pay in the end.

[Darranar]

10. You're looking at it from one side of the conflict...

and from that side you are correct. But I think you're ignoring the other side. If two men are on opposite sides of a wall, one side of which is blue and the other green, they can argue all day about the color of the wall with both being somewhat correct.

Let me try to give the situation from the possible perspective on an Israeli.

Those hundreds of settlements and the wall are being built because the suicide bombings won't stop. They are being done to defy terrorists, and they are being done because the Sharon government is in power. The reason that the Sharon government is in power is because of the suicide bombings. The suicide bombers and terrorists are responsible for the harm of the wall and the settlements. If not for them, this conflict would be over.

You see, loudnclear, like most things in this world this isn't one sided.

[bemildred]

12. Who can say?

It might be a good thing if it was.
But I would bet against it, if I was to bet.

[Lithos]

13. Locking

Per I/P guidelines.

1) Duplicate (see: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=124&topic_id=18259)

2) No pictures allowed in post

3) Subject does not equal article header.

Lithos
FA/NS Moderator
Democratic Underground