U.S. warns Israel off Arafat as Abbas quits

Haaretz ^ | 09-07-03

[Brian S]

U.S. warns Israel off Arafat as Abbas quits

_{By Aluf Benn and Arnon Regular, Haaretz Correspondents}

The United States has told Israel it expects "no surprises" regarding Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat following the resignation
of Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday.

Abbas submitted his resignation in a power struggle with Yasser Arafat, dealing what could be a fatal blow to the U.S.'s road map for peace. Abbas's aides said he was bitter over his failure to carry out reforms and implement peace steps and was determined not to return.

It was not clear Saturday whether Arafat would accept Abbas's resignation, as he does not wish to be blamed for the road map's collapse and expose himself to Israel's threats of expulsion. However, Arafat did announce a caretaker cabinet, triggering off speculation as to whom his candidate for prime minister would be.

The White House on Saturday urged Israel to keep a cool head after Abbas's resignation and the Israeli missile strike in Gaza that wounded Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. "We are following events in the region closely and our representatives are in touch with all concerned parties," a White House spokesman said.

"At this critical moment, it is important that all parties consider carefully the consequences of their actions," the statement added.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Saturday he did not expect Arafat to be expelled at this time. Sharon intends to discuss the proposals to expel Arafat, as he has done in the past, but will take into account the Americans' objection to an Israeli move against the PA chairman for fear of the regional consequences.

Israel made it clear after Abbas's resignation that it would not hold talks with Arafat or any prime minister he appoints. Defense Minister
Shaul Mofaz said that in principle, it would be better if Arafat were out of the territories, but did not suggest expelling him right now.

The U.S. said it expected Israel to uphold the understanding that any Israeli move "to take care of" Arafat was taken only after consultation between Jerusalem and Washington.

The Arafat issue was the main focus of the talks held by Sharon's bureau chief, Dov Weisglass, with U.S. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of State Colin Powell in Washington. Weisglass told his hosts that Arafat systematically and brutally undermined Abbas and was a growing obstruction to the road map. He said that as long as Arafat was there, the PA would not have a serious prime minister and the Palestinian security forces would not act in unison against terrorism.

However, diplomatic sources in Jerusalem said Weisglass did not ask the Americans for a green light to expel Arafat from the territories.

The American officials made it clear that the U.S. still adhered to the road map as the way to settle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Without raising objections to the Israel Defense Forces activity in the territories, Rice and Powell insisted that Israel take care not to harm innocent Palestinian citizens. The U.S. administration asked Israel to consider its steps carefully to make sure they do not damage "the overall picture."

A senior cabinet source said Saturday that the IDF would continue acting against Hamas and its leaders, in keeping with the security cabinet's decision of August 20, after the suicide bus bombing in Jerusalem.

[PeoplesRepublicOfWashington]

Snuff Arafat in '03!

[Mo1]

Oops .. sorry

Well, I do believe there a few that want peace .. so guess they can go back to Jordan and the rest can die with Arafat

[Brian S]

This is the State Department talking - not Bush.

OH you know...I have heard that bullshit since day one of the Bush Administration.

If the Bush Admin. wanted to "purge"...they could "purge" the State department.

I believe I'm correct in remembering that the Clinton admin fired all of the US Attorney's (Dept of Justice) Dept. upon their taking of office and requiring them to "reapply" for their positions.

The "State Department" et al...serves at the "pleasure" of the President, "career" employees included...

[Mo1]

The "State Department" et al...serves at the "pleasure" of the President, "career" employees included...

Not necessarily .. many are protected under the Pendleton Act

What Clinton did with the Justice Department was wrong

[Brian S]

Enlighten me...what is the Pendleton Act?

[Let's Roll]

WTF! Arafart must have pictures.

[yonif]

Keep it up the Bush administration. Keep providing protection to the mass murderer terrorist Yasser Arafat and his tyrannical regime called the Palestinian Authority. Both must go (including the Palestinian Authority regime). We must not deal with any of the people in that terror regime. Would we deal with the Taliban if Mullah Omar resigned?

[zarf]

For the EU to stop supporting Hamas. This was the deal.

[yonif]

Interesting...

[AFPhys]

Enlighten me...what is the Pendleton Act?

LOL... NOW you've done gone and did it, Mo1... Easy answer to give in detail for you, I'm sure when you get around to it... short answer is that it protects way too many of govm't employees from being released easily..

[CyberAnt]

What does the DOJ firing all the attorneys have to do with the State Dept. The DOS did not fire anybody - that's part of the problem. Powell and Bush are not saying the same thing - and it has been quite obvious.

[Reactionary]

One begins to think that the Saudis have told Bush that Arafat is not to be touched lest oil prices skyrocket.

At any rate, the Saudis and Arafat are immune to American and Jewish missiles.

[APRPEH]

you got it...

GWB must (NO EXCUSES PLEASE) maintain the moral integrity of american fopo. by excusing arafat and not OBL or Saddam and sons (or iran) he looks hypocritical. could it be the bush and powell relationship with the house of saud here? hmmm

Robert_Paulson2.... israel is quite capable of handling any war in the region, with or without missiles. if the us and/or israel were to engage in a regional conflict, it would be the us that would own all the oil.. no one is going to mess with the big dog.

[Mo1]

Shortly before Clinton left office .. many became civil service employees .. it's my understanding that they are not easy to be fired



http://exchanges.state.gov/education/engteaching/pubs/AmLnC/br28.htm

The Pendleton Act classified certain jobs, removed them from the patronage ranks, and set up a Civil Service Commission to administer a system based on merit rather than political connections. As the classified list was expanded over the years, it provided the American people with a competent and permanent government bureaucracy. In 1883 fewer than 15,000 jobs were classified; by the time McKinley became president in 1897, 86,000 -- almost half of all federal employees -- were in classified positions. Today, with the exception of a few thousand policy-level appointments, nearly all federal jobs are handled within the civil service system.

[Mo1]

Mo1... Easy answer to give in detail for you, I'm sure when you get around to it... short answer is that it protects way too many of govm't employees from being released easily..

BINGO!

[Simcha7]

Shalom!

Hi...Slings and Arrows,

Post # 8!

You sure have a way with Words!

By the way...I sure DO Agree with You.

(With the melody and tune of RAW HIDE...Blues Brother's Style rolling around my head) LOL!

I wish I had the words of RAW HIDE to post.

Maybe Doug from Upland might lend a hand?!

OY VEY!

[Mo1]

What does the DOJ firing all the attorneys have to do with the State Dept. The DOS did not fire anybody - that's part of the problem

I think his point is there there are still some Clinton people in the DOS that need to be fired

I agree with him .. but I don't think that is going to happen fast enough

[Brian S]

Powell and Bush are not saying the same thing - and it has been quite obvious. And for whom does the State Department serve...if not for the President?

[CyberAnt]

Yes, Powell does serve the President, but more than once Powell has spoken out of turn and has had to change his stance - publicly. However, that doesn't mean there are not other people still within the DOS who have another agenda. Clinton just added to the bunch which were already there.

[Bobby777]

yes.