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CNN.com - Fighting 'room-to-room' at Arafat headquarters - March 29, 2002



"(Arafat's) life is in danger and he is facing, with his freedom fighters, this Israeli aggression which should be stopped immediately," [Arafat spokesman] Abu Rudeineh said. Arafat continued to make phone calls to Arab leaders, he said, and had spoken to U.S. Middle East Envoy Anthony Zinni who was in Jericho to meet with chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat.
What should be added: "...should be stopped immediately because they are kicking our asses!"



What's remarkable is how Arafat is perceived as having any authority or power. If we accept him at face value (ha!) and believe what he says (haha!), then why talk with him at all. His spokesman says "we have nothing to do" with any suicide attacks, and if so, he plainly can't stop them. So to heck with him. He is irrelevant and immaterial, a pitiful and whining excuse of a figurehead.



Or are the Israelis right when they [Sharon] says, "Arafat has established a coalition of terrorism against Israel. He is an enemy...."



Arafat held a news conference in Ramallah on Thursday, saying Palestinians were ready to implement a U.S. cease-fire plan "without any conditions."



But Israeli officials were skeptical. "We're quite fed up with those declarations that Arafat makes every time he feels the pressure is mounting on him," said Gissin. "He has to take real action. Declarations won't do. They won't get him off the hook."

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