US may reconsider stance on Arafat

[bemildred]

A Palestinian official said the United States will reconsider its stance on
Palestinian President Yasser Arafat after it failed to sideline him.

"There are strong messages from the Europeans that assert the American
Administration is now convinced Arafat is an important figure in the Middle
East and you can't talk to the Palestinian people except through him," the
official told Gulf News.

Sources close to Arafat said he received many phone calls yesterday from
international officials who assured him Israel will not take any step against
him.

The sources said US officials asked Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to
avoid hurting Arafat. "Israel must defend itself without sparking more
conflict," American officials said.

Gulf News

[Maple]

1. Fine time to figure THAT out

"now convinced Arafat is an important figure in the Middle
East and you can't talk to the Palestinian people except through him"

[bemildred]

2. Assuming this is not BS,

which it might be,
it represents a change in position,
or rather a giving up on a certain position,
which could have far reaching consequences,
or not.