Jerusalem Post Editorial: Kill Arafat Thu Sep 11 2003 22:11:57 ET The world will not help us; we must help ourselves. We must kill as many of the Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaders as possible, as quickly possible, while minimizing collateral damage, but not letting that damage stop us. And we must kill Yasser Arafat, because the world leaves us no alternative. No one seriously argues with the fact that Arafat was preventing Mahmoud Abbas, the prime minister he appointed, from combating terrorism, to the extent that was willing to do so. Almost no one seriously disputes that Abbas on whom Israel, the US, and Europe had placed all their bets failed primarily because Arafat retained control of much of the security apparatus, and that Arafat wanted him to fail. The new prime minister, Ahmed Qurei, clearly will fare no better, since he, if anything, has been trying to garner more power for Arafat, not less. Under these circumstances, the idea of exiling Arafat is gaining currency, but the standard objection is that he will be as much or more of a problem when free to travel the world than he is locked up in Ramallah. If only three countries Britain, France, and Germany joined the US in a total boycott of Arafat this would not be the case. If these countries did not speak with Arafat, it would not matter much who did, and however much a local Palestinian leader would claim to consult with Arafat, his power would be gone. But such a boycott will not happen. Only now, after more than 800 Israelis have died in three years of suicide bombings and other terrorist attacks, has Europe finally decided that Hamas is a terrorist organization. How much longer will it take before it cuts off Arafat? Yet Israel cannot accept a situation in which Arafat blocks any Palestinian break with terrorism, whether from here or in exile. Therefore, we are at another point in our history at which the diplomatic risks of defending ourselves are exceeded by the risks of not doing so. Such was the case in the Six Day War, when Israel was forced to launch a preemptive attack or accept destruction. And when Menachem Begin decided to bomb the Iraqi nuclear reactor in 1981. And when Israel launched Operation Defensive Shield in Palestinian cities after the Passover Massacre of 2002. In each case, Israel tried every fashion of restraint, every plea to the international community to take action that would avoid the need for "extreme" measures, all to no avail. When the breaking point arrives, there is no point in taking half-measures. If we are going to be condemned in any case, we might as well do it right. Arafat's death at Israel's hands would not radicalize Arab opposition to Israel; just the opposite. The current jihad against us is being fueled by the perception that Israel is blocked from taking decisive action to defend itself. Arafat's survival and power are a test of the proposition that it is possible to pursue a cause through terror and not have that cause rejected by the international community. Killing Arafat, more than any other act, would demonstrate that the tool of terror is unacceptable, even against Israel, even in the name of a Palestinian state. Arafat does not just stand for terror, he stands for the refusal to make peace with Israel under any circumstances and within any borders. In this respect, there is no distinction, beyond the tactical, between him and Hamas. Europe's refusal to utterly reject him condemns Palestinians, no less than Israelis, to endless war and dooms the possibility of the two-state solution the world claims to seek. While the prospect of a Palestinian power vacuum is feared by some, the worst of all worlds is what exists now: Terrorists attack Israel at will under the umbrella of legitimacy provided by Arafat. Hamas would not be able to fill a post-Arafat vacuum; on the contrary, Hamas would lose the cover it has today. A word must be said here about the most common claim made by those who would not isolate Arafat, let alone kill him: that he is the elected leader of the Palestinian people. Even if Arafat was chosen in a truly free election (when does his term end?), which we would dispute, this does not close the question of his legitimacy. Whom the Palestinians choose to lead them is none of our business, provided it is a free choice, and provided they do not opt for leaders who choose terror and aggression. So long as the Palestinians choose such a leadership, it should be held no more immune to counterattack by Israel than the Taliban and Saddam Hussein were by the United States. We complain that a double standard is applied to us, and it is. But we cannot complain when we apply that double standard to ourselves. Arafat's survival, under our watchful eyes, is living testimony to our tolerance of that double standard. If we want another standard to be applied, we must begin by applying it ourselves.
funny how some keep saying that killing or exiling him will "inflame the middle east" and "fuel a rise in terrorism" u know what, they're already killing us non stop. the IDF is stopping 15 out of every 16 suicide bombers. it can't get any worse than it already is... i say kill him so he'll become one of the biggest "martyrs" in history for the arabs / muslims but at least it will give that stupid "road map" a chance to move forward
If you really want peace, you should start with Sharon...in whatever manner you feel comfortable. Last I heard there is a war crimes court in Belgium that would like to talk to Sharon. See you wouldn't even have to get blood on your hands...although blood doesn't seem to bother the right wing much.
That is hilarious that they indict Sharon, but Arafat does no wrong. Arafat is a terrorist to the core. I would say the double standard is with the EU. Those indicting Sharon are the same that would go after Bush, if they could. That war crimes court is a complete joke, they could hardly do anything with Milosevic, let alone fight their way out of a paper bag.
Belgium is in the process of drastically changing this law or even sacking it completely. it got them in pretty hot diplomatic water. actually more like boiling water...especially with the US. Galt: no. i live in Canada. my parents moved here so i won't have to serve in the army. i was too young to say anything about it...Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
There was a pundit on the TV show "Tough Crowd" who said the roadmap, starts at Arafat's grave marker. I along with the rest of the audience seem to agree with that opinion. No progress will be made in the peace process before Arafat goes to stand before his maker.
Isn’t that what Jews have been doing all of their existence and got them expelled? The way Jews help themselves its intimidating! The world gives you the alternative of establishing your little State without violating the habitants of Palestinian. The Zionist intentions and hidden agenda on Palestine, were evil from the beginning and we are wondering why it isn’t working. I seriously argue that in addition to Arafat, it was also Bush and Sharon by trying to use Abbas in making Arafat “irrelevant”. But with all the defects that Arafat has, it is the Palestinian people that don’t make Arafat irrelevant. Bush and Sharon underestimate the Will of the Palestinians. Impossible! Some of those countries can not be bias and they must govern to public opinion, that same public that elected them. Yes and Sad, but the several thousand Palestinians dead, it is also the Israeli terrorism. Oh yeah! That’s an extremely shortsighted assumption. Arafat represents the Palestinian cause and straggle for their right in their own homeland. He is more a symbol then a person. If he is murdered, than the Bib Laden mythology will look like a kindergarten in comparison to what will be unleashed. The international community expressed rejection to Terrorist attacks in same manner as it has rejected and condemn Israelis killings and violations of human rights. Like the hammas, Israel also prefers the way of the gun. Killing for killing and neither side will ever run out of munitions. Bullshit! It is more under the watchful eye of World Community for what Israel cannot do anything except to crucify itself by murdering a people’s leader and a Peace price holder. Those in Israel advocating for murdering as a solution while they’re occupying a foreign land, are not better then Hammas.
This must be fueled by the frustration of the inabillity to prevent the continous suicide bombings (sorry. bomb attacks, editor) by palestines (sorry, arafats henchmen, editor) i think.... Clearly the situation can't get any worse, so why not kill Arafat? I mean these suicide bombings continue with or without Arafat right? I can see the logic behind that. But will it pave the way for a modest palestine to come to power or will it pave the way for hamas to take control ? And if so, isn't that what sharon wants to be able to be able to fight a full scale war without having one hand tied behind his back by some flaky american roadmap to peace? Like nico said, we are on a roadmap to war. Go ahead, build that wall, strike any palestine with organising capabillity (kill the leader and the baboons will run back to the trees right?) and take out the iranian nuclear facillities in the process, things can't get any worse so they only can get better.... It would be interesting to see how this plays out... I am starting to believe that these bible/koranthumpers indeed lack the flexibillity to work something out peacefully, so they better get it over with in a good hard fight, leaving only one man standing,they have been bothering the whole world with their stupid games for too long now...
truth : Why are you copy/pasting entire articles ? Why do you not link the source ? Why isnt this deleted/moderated ? Otheadp No it wouldnt and you will be witness of it . Thousands have gathered around Muqata and thousands will oppose the attack violently . A power vacuum would be created that would rather go into extremicy than moderacy because of the anger caused by the action , forget about any roadmaps if Arafat is no longer there because of zionist violence . They arent already killing you non-stop they are playing tit tat for the sake of symbolical retalliation , these are fully psychological wars where hardly any physical damage is being done . That is what could be changed , but again that is exactly what Israel wants : an extremist peoples threatning Israels souvereignity is the perfect pretext for seizing complete controll of territories followed by ethnic cleansement so it can be fully Jewish through settlements , thus expaniding the zionist nation . Where are you making this up ? Its international court not Belgian law , and the US ? Lmao you got to be joking me , US opposes actions against Sharon ? A MIRACLE !! What has its status to do with any crimes Sharon or Bush are responsible of ? Would the non-existance of the court mean non-existance of the crimes ? Who the fuck are you kidding man that ape and his inbred family from texas has murdered thousands Iraqi's and Afghanis and they would all be innocent ? Another big surprsise Martydom of Arafat shows that the time has come to shift the objective toward the destruction of Israel instead of any Palestinian state . Im sorry but in Palestine many "bible-koran thumpers" stand on the same side , which celarly shows the irellevance of the entire religious identification that has been given to the Palestinian resistance , aside of the fact that its simply not correct . It is not Hamas/Islamic Jihad VS zionists . It is thePalestinians of EVERY religious affiliation that is in the position of war against zionism . As for them , aside of the modern-age haredi-zionism (amazing) and Christian zionism , the movement has always been very secular if not atheist , moreover its roots rely in the conscious cultural and religious rejection of Judaism . Maybe we should make a Palestinian state in the Palestinian ancient home the netherlands and start those silly games with you Dutchies for some time what do you think of that Vortex ? And they only bother your Western representation of the world dont think Hutu's give a shit for any Mid-East conflict . And quite frankly........ the West has been bothering the Arab world with their colonialism and their "free market" exploitation ideologies and their cold wars while kicking in some psychotic cult of Hebrew impersonators that has become the strongest nuclear state in the entire region . So shit man stop crying how "your world" is bothered somuch , shut off your tv-set and stop reading the topics here about it .
US opposes actions against Sharon ? A MIRACLE !! not against sharon. against its troops. israel's mistake re: killing/exiling arafat, is that they're so public about it. they make one statement and it wakes up some nationalistic pride in palestinians. i.e. "our dear leader is threatened". it's not because they love him so much, it's because "israel dares to threaten YASSIR." if israel wants to do something about this piece of smelly shit, just do it covertly without making a big fuss about it right before you do it. all this talk is turning arafat into somebody relevant... which is the opposite of what israelis want. or maybe... maybe that's their plan all along? they won't deal with arafat so as long as he's in power there will be no progress.. hmm.. sounds like an evil zionist plan to me.
"What has its status to do with any crimes Sharon or Bush are responsible of ? Would the non-existance of the court mean non-existance of the crimes ? Who the fuck are you kidding man that ape and his inbred family from texas has murdered thousands Iraqi's and Afghanis and they would all be innocent ?" More objectivity, eh, Ghassan? Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
truth : More objectivity, eh, Ghassan? Either show me what facts have been twisted because of my subjectivism in order not to call it objective any longer or hold your meaningless comments to yourself . Othead : it's not because they love him so much, it's because "israel dares to threaten YASSIR." How about because Israel undermines any Palestinian souvereignity and decides who they find fit to talk to and who they find fit to kill independant of the Palestinian wishes the person in question REPRESENTS ! they won't deal with arafat so as long as he's in power there will be no progress.. hmm.. sounds like an evil zionist plan to me. Its a cheap and old rhetorical trick to demonize sarcastically your own intentions , it has no meaning whatsoever . But if you wish to know a logical understanding of making a fuss about Arafats expelling , will make Arafat and the PA shit their pants and appoint someone who can have controll of the security forces (as Abbas wanted) to take care of Hamas thus lead Palestine into civil war . And yes the fus itself is quite a deal because having Arafat die a martyr would extremize Palestinian resistance and the PA would fall apart making the religious militants that are already denounced as terrorists , the main representatives of the Palestinian peoples : this to Arik is an invitation to ethnic cleanse .
Israels days are numbered...2020 is not that far down the line.....from NY Times editorial. The problem with a belief in brute force is that someday the other guy might have the brute force. And I suspect the Palestinians may start thinking of payback when they get that hobnailed boot off their neck. http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/12/opinion/12FRI1.html ........more before........quote.......
I say just exile Arafat to the Falkland Islands... those little islands between South America and Antarctica. People live there but I doubt many would be supporters.
