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Can a New Palestinian Prime Minister Succeed?

(Newsweek)- Dan Ephron Interviews Benny Morris Both Abu Mazen and Abu Ala don’t have grassroots support among the Palestinian people. They’re both regarded as politicians and not fighters. It’s the fighters who are admired. That’s why you see Arafat still wearing a military uniform. I don’t expect Abu Ala (Ahmed Qurei) to be any more successful in reining in the terrorist organizations. Abu Ala has learned from Abu Mazen’s experience that he can’t afford to strike a line independent from Arafat. So it is even less likely that Abu Ala would push things forward. For Qurei, taking on Hamas means a civil war, and I can see from the Palestinian perspective why they don’t get involved in a civil war for the sake of the Israelis. The problem is that there’s no way to move forward until these groups are dismantled. The ends and desires of Hamas are really ends of the entire Palestinian people. Hamas wants Israel eliminated and most Palestinians, in their hearts, do as well. Some Palestinians believe that they can’t put an end to Israel and thus must accept a Palestinian state alongside Israel. But even then, I believe these people think that over a process of time Israel will cease to exist. I don’t think the attack on [Hamas leader Sheikh] Yassin is the last we’ll see. I think Israel will try and get him again. In fact, I think we should have gotten to him and to Arafat a long time ago. There is a psychological effect and a public relations effect of killing off the leadership. The day after we injured [Hamas leader] Rantisi, Hamas signed a ceasefire. I think the feeling of personal vulnerability may have a moderating effect on this leadership. Q: You said you believe Israel should kill Arafat? Morris: There is no solution except killing him. All this talk about exiling him is nonsense. He would be much more trouble wandering the world. I think the choice is between killing him and keeping him in his Ramallah compound.
2003-09-29 00:00:00
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