----- Original Message -----
From: "Ben Braver" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "CF-Community" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Friday, June 21, 2002 10:37 PM
Subject: Re: optimism

> >> Todd wrote:
> >> > Question 1:  Is Arafat serious, or is he just "accepting" a plan that
he
> >> > knows Sharon won't so Sharon ends up looking like a hardass and the
> >blame
> >> > falls on Israel?
> >>
> >> Don't know.
> >
> >Me neither.  My gut tells me that he's just going through the motions ...
my
> >mind is optomistic, though, and hopes to prove my gut wrong.
>
> Recall the Arafat/Barak/Clinton days, when Arafat reputedly told Clinton
> that accepting the plan would mean his death. And that was before the
> Intifada IIRC.

Yeah .. funny that ....

> >> > Question 2:  If he is, does he have the support of the people enough
to
> >at
> >> > least reduce the bombings and begin to approach some type of
stability?
> >>
> >> Not before there are signs of a Israeli retreat. One of the reasons why
> >> he is asking for a permanent agreement instead of the next interim
> >> agreement.
> >
> >Yeah, but Sharon says "no retreat" until the attacks stop.  Who is to
> >sincerely extend the first olive branch?  Maybe this is it .. who knows?
We
> >can only hope.
> >
> A related two-fold question:
> can Arafat control the Palestinian violence (if he isn't behind it) long
> enough to look sincere, and will Sharon recognize it and respond in kind?

Which was the question of my question.

> >> > Question 3:  What do the other Arab states think of this?
> >>
> >> Guess who will have to take care permanently of all the people that
> >> can't return. They won't like it.
> >
> >That's what I'm worried about more than anything.
> >
> >Todd
> >
> Guess who *could* have taken care of all the Palestinian refugees,
> but instead let them rot in camps all these years, fomenting the
> frustration and violence?
>
> -Ben

Which is also the basic question of my 3rd question.  The palastinians,
though they have caused and recieved much harm, seem to remain the pawns of
the other Arab states.  "Hooray for the Palastinians.  We support their
cause, completely.  Death to Israel .. death to the west .. blah blah blah".

If the other Arab states would just shut the hell up, maybe this would end,
sooner than later.

P.T.

> >> Jochem

______________________________________________________________________
Your ad could be here. Monies from ads go to support these lists and provide more 
resources for the community. http://www.fusionauthority.com/ads.cfm

Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/
Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/index.cfm?sidebar=lists

Reply via email to