After Arafat

A second contentious dispute between Yasir Arafat and a second prime minister over the control of the Palestinian Security Services shows the world what kind of leader Arafat is—and what the Palestinian Authority will be like when he is gone.

by Cecil E. Maranville

Yasir Arafat, president of the Palestinian Authority (PA), isn't gone—yet. But his megalomaniacal leadership has put in place what will happen when he is. Already, sporadic gun battles take place in the streets of Palestinian towns and cities, as clan leaders and warlords jockey for power. For the most part, they still submit to Arafat, who strangely remains a symbol of opposition to Israel. But these gangs are positioning themselves to seize advantage when he is gone.

The legacy Arafat leaves will likely ensure that peace with Israel will not take place for a long time. But it will also ensure wretchedness for the people he is supposed to lead into security and nationhood.

Sources told Time magazine that Arafat said, "I know how to protect the Palestinian interests better than anyone else,&" when meeting with Prime Minister Ahmed Queria (Matthew Rees and Jamil Hamad, "Aafat Under Fire,&" July 25, 2004). "I'm not going to surrender,&" he added, as if the latest dispute was a personal attack on him, instead of a revolt against the rot that permeates his organization.

Speaking of Arafat's leadership, Palestinian legislator Hana Ashrawi said, "We should put this one-man-show behind us&" (Jerusalem Post Online Edition, July 26, 2004). She told of troubling rumors of a high volume of sales of weapons in both Gaza and the West Bank.

Arafat has governed the 3.7 million residents of the Palestinian territories like so many ruthless dictators in Middle East history, not like a democratically elected president. Of course, there has been only one presidential election, in 1996, and no date set for another. And, in that election, he saw to it that the only opponent he faced was a 73-year-old female social activist.

"Leadership&" by force and bribery

Throughout his years of notoriety, from international terrorist to quasi head-of-state, he has managed those who might take over from him with Machiavellian skill. Instead of serving the people he presides over, he ensures that the powerful continue to fight among themselves, thus controlling his people through carrot and stick. He channels millions of dollars of foreign aid to businessmen loyal to him and bribes government officials to remain in his camp.

Read the full article at www.wnponline.org/wnp/wnp0408/afterarafat.htm

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