Dramatic Split in Fatah Blamed on Arafat'S 'Follied' Leadership

[pelsar]

http://www.miftah.org/Display.cfm?DocId=9178&CategoryId=5

palestenians taking some responsability for their own situation.....about time...more power to them

When Nasser Juma says Yasser Arafat led his people to "disaster" in the last years of his life, he speaks with authority.

We are the people in the right, but we ... should behave more wisely.

Hamas's strategy of suicide bombing, which helped to "drag" the Fatah factions into suicide attacks on Israeli civilians, was, he believes, a catastrophe. "The leadership led by Arafat took us to disaster ...

[liberalpragmatist]

1. I think the split in Fatah is a GOOD thing

People worry that it'll embolden Hamas, but frankly, I think that the new movement is far more likely to stall Hamas than the Fatah old-guard. And while there are clearly shady ties with terrorism connected to Marwan Barghouti, I continue to think that if anyone is able to sell a peace deal, it'll be Barghouti. Barghouti at least condemns civilian attacks (although admittedly there is evidence he was involved in some), speaks fluent Hebrew, has negotiated with Israel, recognizes Israel's right to exist, and has many Israeli friends (or at least did). He's not a saint - he definitely has blood on his hands. But sometimes you have to deal with people like him and Sharon.

[barb162]

3. "Barghouti at least condemns civilian attacks"

That's what Abbas does; you can condemn these attacks all day long and not do anything about them. Abbas probably is better on this issue than Barghouti would be (re yours "although admittedly there is evidence he was involved in some" civilian attacks)

[liberalpragmatist]

4. Yes

I have no illusions that Barghouti is a particularly savory person when it comes to terrorism. But his hands are cleaner than many others in Fatah and Palestinian politics. That does say something about the level of terrorist involvement in the PA. But sometimes you have to deal with shady characters. Even Sharon is well-known in Israel for his raids on Palestinian villages in the state's early history that killed lots of Palestinian civilians. Barghouti is known for his lack of corruption, his willingness to negotiate with Israel, his fervent secularism, and his popularity amongst ordinary Palestinians. Moreover, as a leader of Fatah, he probably has more authority to break up the terrorist cells network than Abbas. And his popularity and willingess to allow Israel to exist are Israel's best hope of avoiding having to negotiate with Hamas.

[barb162]

6. good points

[barb162]

2. "the Palestinian leadership under Arafat was folly, mistaken..."

This says it all. Arafat was amazingly bad for the Palestinians. All the wrong moves at all the wrong times. I think there could have been a Palestinian state and peace already if it hadn't been for that slug.

[pelsar]

5. liberal...has some points....

and one doesnt make peace with ones friends as the old saying goes....Barghoutis not done yet, palestenains have a habit of leaving israeli jails and moving up the political heirarchy.....maybe his time will come.

[Behind the Aegis]

7. Arafat was a "foiled" leader.

He did nothing for his people, but continue the violence. He had numerous opportunities to stop it, and did nothing, but collect large sums of money that his widow now enjoys (does she live in Palestine....don't think so).