Standing In Line
With Arafat out of the picture, speculation abounds as to who will succeed him.
GIL SEDAN
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Jerusalem
W
hen the Islamic Prophet Mohammed was
dying in 632 A.D., one of his disciples, the
future Caliph Omar, raised his sword to
strike down anyone who dared to claim that the
prophet had breathed his last breath.
According to Islamic tradition, Omar's colleague
Abu-Bakr rebuked him. "If anyone worships
Mohammed, Mohammed is dead. If anyone worships
God, God is alive, immortal," Abu Bakr said.
If that was the case with Mohammed, many
Palestinians argued this week, then it certainly
is true of Yasser Arafat, who has been on life-
support in a Paris hospital as his wife and
Palestinian Authority leaders guard informa-
tion on his condition.
The story about Mohammed has made the rounds
in Palestinian areas to justify the transfer of power in
the Palestinian Authority even before Arafat was
declared dead. The current and former P.A. prime min-
isters divvied up Arafat's responsibilities when he left
for France in late October. The power shift generally
was accepted, but one important Palestinian — the ail-
ing president's wife, Suha — rejected it.
On Sunday, Suha Arafat charged three veteran
Palestinian leaders — P.A. Prime Minister Ahmed
Qurei; Mahmoud Abbas, chairman of the PLO's exec-
utive committee and a former P.A. prime minister, and
Foreign Minister Nabil Sha'ath — of a conspiracy to
"bury Abu Ammar [Arafat] while he was still alive."
Suha Arafat made her dramatic statement in an emo-
tional interview with Al-Jazeera, the Arabic satellite tel-
evision station, while the three leaders were en route to
Paris to look into Arafat's condition.
Suha Arafat, who had not visited the Palestinian
areas nor seen her husband since the intifada began
more than four years ago, has closely controlled access
to her husband in Paris. But the Palestinian leaders
stressed that as the national leader, Arafat belonged to
the entire Palestinian people, not just to his
wife.
In Israel, Suha Arafat's unexpected broad-
side was seen as part of a behind-the-scenes
battle for an estimated $900 million in
Arafat's bank accounts, much of it believed to be loot-
ed from public PA. funds. But the impression her out-
burst may create could further complicate efforts to
ensure a smooth transition of power once Arafat is
declared dead.
So far, the name of the game has been unity, with
everyone from the old guard to the young guard and
Fatah to Hamas saying: Let everyone appear united
until the "day after," until the present political mist
Co VER
ST ORY
clears.
Under Palestinian law, Rawhi Fattouh, speaker of the
Palestinian Legislative Council, would take Arafat's
place as Palestinian Authority president for 60 days,
after which new elections would be held. But Fattouh
is little known among Palestinians and has no political
base.
It seems increasingly likely that, at least transitionally,
the Palestinians will be led by a collective headed by
Qurei and Abbas. Under this arrangement, Qurei
would deal with the daily affairs of governing while
Abbas handles diplomacy, Palestinian officials said.
"Tunis" Leaders
From Israel's point of view, that's good news: Both of
the men have good records of dialogue with Israelis.
Then again, that may prove counterproductive as they
work to establish credibility among Palestinians, since
it can hurt a leader's popularity to be considered too
close to Israel.
Both Abbas and Qurei are seen as part of the "Tunis
leadership," the Arafat intimates who lived in exile and
never really shared the plight of the local Palestinian
population. Arafat ran Palestinian affairs from Tunisia
between 1982 and 1994.
In addition, Abbas and Qurei could yet find them-
selves challenged by other powerful and popular ele-
Out Of Chaos
Palestinian leaders try to hold down the lid.
DAN BARON
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Jerusalem
he temporary Palestinian leadership is breath-
ing new life into prospects for peace with
Israel.
Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei
and his predecessor, Mahmoud Abbas, declared a
police crackdown on the chaos in the West Bank and
Gaza Strip on Sunday, Nov. 7. "This goes into effect
immediately," said Palestinian Cabinet Minister Saeb
Erekat.
The initiative was billed as a move to restore law and
order after recent clashes between Arafat loyalists and a
new generation of Fatah members. It also included a
Palestinian Authority request that terror factions halt
attacks on Israel proper, a move the groups were con-
sidering and were expected to accept.
Israeli officials, who has braced for a potentially cata-
strophic succession struggle in the West Bank and Gaza
since Arafat was flown to Paris with a severe stomach
illness on Oct. 29, expressed cautious encouragement.
11/12
2004
30
"There are indications that" the Palestinian Authority
is "trying, to close ranks and stop the Hamas terrorism,
but there is no way of knowing if this will succeed,"
Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz told the Israeli
Cabinet. 'We believe Hamas and other terror groups
will answer the Palestinian Authority's call for violence
to be curbed."
Israel insists that the Palestinian Authority disarm
Hamas and other terrorists group in accordance with
the U.S.-backed peace "road map." That need was
underscored over the weekend by the death of an
Israeli soldier in a "friendly fire" incident as his unit
clashed with Palestinian gunmen in the West Bank
town of Tulkarm.
In a separate incident in nearby Jenin, Israeli com-
mandos killed four Al-Aksa Brigade terrorists.
But in Jerusalem there is a growing conviction that,
with Arafat gone, the extremists could lay down their
arms in exchange for a place in a new, broad
Palestinian government.
On Nov. 6, Qurei and his security chiefs held a rare
conference with Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Al-Aksa
Brigade at which the factions requested a power-shar-
ing role. The Palestinian Authority, wary of alienating
Israel and the United States by closing ranks with ter-
rorist groups, was circumspect.
"We are talking about unity in all forms and
aspects," Qurei told reporters.
Israel, meanwhile, is keen to avoid any appearance of
meddling in the future of the Palestinian Authority and
offered to ease closures in the West Bank and Gaza so
that Palestinian security forces can restore order.
Mofaz also told the Cabinet that Israeli security
forces were prepared to facilitate Arafat's burial in Gaza
should he die. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has ruled
out the Palestinian Authority's request to lay Arafat to
rest in Jerusalem, but some Palestinian officials dis-
creetly agree with the choice of Gaza — the Palestinian
leader's father is already buried there, in the Khan
Younis Martyrs Cemetery.
Arafat's wife, Suha, has reportedly requested that he
be kept on a life-support system indefinitely — or at
least until she can wrap up his will to her satisfaction.
The delay has increased tension in the Palestinian
ranks.