JERUSALEM (February 13) - Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat aimed a handgun at West Bank Preventive Security Service chief Jabril Rajoub during a tense meeting on Monday, Palestinian sources reported yesterday.
Sources said Arafat became enraged when Rajoub suggested Arafat can no longer control his people, after a series of incidents in which Palestinian mobs forced jailors to release terrorists from their prison cells.
Arafat was also furious that Rajoub had told reporters Arafat would order Fatah's Aksa Martyrs' Brigades to lay down their weapons.
Yesterday, senior opposition sources in the Gaza Strip reported Arafat ordered local Fatah members to disarm the rival factions - Hamas and Islamic Jihad and even some elements within Fatah - that are overpowering the PA-based bodies in the Gaza Strip.
Arafat convened Palestinian leaders for a meeting last week and asked them to order their activists not to commit any terrorist attacks during Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's official visit to the United States, in light of the US's recent staunch support of Israel's retaliatory moves in the territories.
They told Arafat he would first have to prevent Fatah from carrying out such attacks, sources said.
Arafat responded by calling members of Fatah's supreme committee and PA Preventive Security Service heads - including Rajoub and West Bank General Intelligence chief Tawfik Tirawi - for a meeting on Saturday.
At the meeting they discussed the future of the Aksa Martyrs' Brigades' role in the "armed struggle," as well as the possibility of converting Hamas and Islamic Jihad into exclusively non-military political bodies, internal power struggles within Fatah, corruption in the PA, and a state of lawlessness in PA areas that some described as "a lawless jungle."
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Interesting scope of events. Arafat orders forces not to attack while Sharon is in the US, might look bad. However, constructively, Arafat talks about making Hamas and Islamic Jihad nonmilitary political organizations. Good news!
Avi From Israel, joined Sep 2001, 922 posts, RR: 6 Reply 4, posted (11 years 3 months 1 week 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 675 times:
So what are you saying ADG? It didn't happen?
It DID!!!
And here is another very interesting story from the Palestinian authority.
Last week a group (big one) of Palestinians broke into a prison in Jenin and free Hamas and Islamic Jihad prisoners.
What did the local police do?
They were busy in collecting the TV crew video cassettes so the world won’t see it!!!
ADG From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (11 years 3 months 1 week 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 673 times:
Unlike its neighbors, Israel's media is privately owned and objective.
I take it you missed the oxymoron in your statement?
Of course it's objective .. of course .. of course .. .(if you are an Israeli).
So what are you saying ADG? It didn't happen?
Not at all, i'm saying that it's not a reliable report coming from a "privately owned media firm" in a country with a vested interest in making Palestine look as bad as possible.
It DID!!!
You were there?
And here is another very interesting story from the Palestinian authority. Last week a group (big one) of Palestinians broke into a prison in Jenin and free Hamas and Islamic Jihad prisoners.
What did the local police do?
They were busy in collecting the TV crew video cassettes so the world won’t see it!!!
Read that in the local English Israeli paper as well did you? Neither incident was reported here or in any other "unbiased" country that I can find (so far).
Jwenting From Netherlands, joined Apr 2001, 10213 posts, RR: 21 Reply 6, posted (11 years 3 months 1 week 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 670 times:
We've been over this many times... Most of the western press is extremely biassed AGAINST Israel and IN FAVOUR OF the PLO terrorists like Arafat.
Simple reason is that the PLO makes for a lot of easy press: blown up shopping centers, bullet riddled commuter busses, screaming hordes of children waving flags and shouting 'Death to Israel'.
Add to that that the Europeans and Australians badly need Arabian oil and most OPEC states like the PLO a lot better than Israel, making it prudent to be politically correct as a nation and favour the PLO as well, and you have the reason why PLO outrages are not reported here.
Twaneedsnohelp From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 7, posted (11 years 3 months 1 week 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 668 times:
Read that in the local English Israeli paper as well did you? Neither incident was reported here or in any other "unbiased" country that I can find (so far).
Everything is an Israel conspiracy to you isn't it. Hey did you see that guy in the ill-fitting suit get on the bus with you today? Or have you recently been hearing weird ticking noises as you lie in bed at night? Are your phones starting to act mysterious as if they are recording something? Ever get the feeling your cell phone is going to blow up as you place it next to your head for a call???
Prebennorholm From Denmark, joined Mar 2000, 6019 posts, RR: 55 Reply 8, posted (11 years 3 months 1 week 6 days 17 hours ago) and read 660 times:
Jerusalem Post is a good and trustworthy newspaper. And it has been so for several decades. It ranks at least within the top 25% of western news media.
Regards, Preben Norholm
Always keep your number of landings equal to your number of take-offs, Preben Norholm
FSPilot747 From United States of America, joined Oct 1999, 3599 posts, RR: 14 Reply 9, posted (11 years 3 months 1 week 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 653 times:
Jwenting: "Most of the western press is extremely biassed AGAINST Israel and IN FAVOUR OF the PLO terrorists like Arafat."
Avi From Israel, joined Sep 2001, 922 posts, RR: 6 Reply 11, posted (11 years 3 months 1 week 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 647 times:
...in a country with a vested interest in making Palestine look as bad as possible.
No mater what Israel will do to make Palestinians look bad, the Palestinians will do it better themselves. Examples?
1. The arm ship (And no words are necessary here).
2. Arafat lies.
After the events of September 11th the American and European started to press Arafat to stop the terrorists attacks. From time to time Arafat told them that he arrested some terrorists. In several cases Israel got some of them in 24 to 48 hours later.
Now the American and European didn’t ask themselves why did Israel do it, but why did these terrorist were out when they were supposed to be in prison. They (with Egypt and Jordan leaders) understood that Arafat is a liar and had enough of him.
How come Israel is holding him in one place for two months (and this is a new world record for him) and nobody is saying anything?
You were there?
If the Palestinians are talking about it, I don’t need to be there to know it happened.
Read that in the local English Israeli paper as well did you? Neither incident was reported here or in any other "unbiased" country that I can find (so far).
Well, at least one Palestinian security organization is doing his job .
N400QX From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 12, posted (11 years 3 months 1 week 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 638 times:
>Read that in the local English Israeli paper as well did you? Neither incident was reported here or in any other "unbiased" country that I can find
I resent your implication that the Israeli press is biased. I found the above story in the following media outlets this morning and afternoon:
Jerusalem Post
New York Post
Wall Street Journal
Fox News
And those are just the ones I've watched/read... Typical of you, though, to, if you don't like what you read, to bash the source of the information. If you really want to save face, I'll give you advice-- stop supporting Arafat.
Tbar220 From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 7011 posts, RR: 28 Reply 15, posted (11 years 3 months 1 week 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 620 times:
Actually ADG, if you hadn't so easily passed over the news you don't like to see, that was reported by both the AP and Reuters. So don't quickly say it wasn't reported.
Twaneedsnohelp From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 16, posted (11 years 3 months 1 week 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 613 times:
Heres the article from AP from an Arab/Palestinian website (www.PalestineFM.com). Someone looks like an idiot, hahaha.
Arafat Pulls Gun on Security Chief
The Associated Press, Wed 13 Feb 2002
JERUSALEM (AP) — It was a startling scene even for the mercurial Yasser Arafat: during an argument, the Palestinian leader tried to punch his West Bank security chief and pulled a gun on him for defying orders.
Arafat's outburst may have been more than political theater, with some saying he appears increasingly unnerved by open talk in Israel — and more discreet whispers in Washington — about sidelining him.
The target of Arafat's wrath was Jibril Rajoub, head of the Preventive Security Service in the West Bank — and a man tagged by Israeli leaders as one of the younger, more pragmatic Palestinians they feel they could do business with.
Arafat summoned Rajoub to his compound in the West Bank town of Ramallah on Monday, angered by the escape of prisoners from a lockup under Rajoub's control and the security chief's refusal to help dismantle the Al Aqsa Brigades, a militia linked to Arafat's Fatah movement.
Arafat yelled at Rajoub and at one point jumped from his chair, trying to punch his security chief in the face, said Palestinian officials familiar with the incident. The barrel-chested Rajoub caught Arafat's hand in mid-air, said the officials, speaking on condition of anonymity.
At that point, Arafat pulled a pistol from a hip-holster, the officials said. One aide shouted at Arafat, ``Don't do it,'' while others wrested the pistol from Arafat's hand, letting it drop to the floor. Rajoub got up and left.
Some Palestinians played down the episode as vintage Arafat: many times in the past, the Palestinian leader has yelled at his lieutenants, cursed them or banished them from the inner circle, only to make amends with hugs and kisses.
Most recently Arafat fell out with his deputy in the PLO, Mahmoud Abbas, when Arafat felt his authority was being challenged. Rajoub's equivalent in the Gaza strip, Mohammed Dahlan, also fell from favor after criticizing Arafat several months ago, but has since been restored to the leader's good graces.
Palestinian legislator Hanan Ashrawi said she spoke to Arafat after the incident with Rajoub, and that he told her he had to assert his authority.
``According to Arafat, it's a matter of discipline,'' Ashrawi said. ``It's a matter of knowing that one person takes the decisions, and he (Arafat) feels this is a situation of crisis, and he feels it is important that everyone comply.''
Arafat's aides remained silent, and the Palestinian media didn't report the confrontation; Palestinians learned of it from Israeli newspapers and TV reports.
Rajoub published a pledge of loyalty to Arafat in the Palestinian daily Al Quds on Wednesday and said anyone challenging the Palestinian leader while he is under Israeli siege was committing treason. Yet in an interview with Israel TV's Channel 10, he was more ominous. While again professing his loyalty, he said: ``The time will come when I will say what happened ... Nobody can do anything to me.''
Abdel Jawad Saleh, an outspoken Arafat critic and former Palestinian agriculture minister, said he believed Arafat was feeling increasingly pressured. ``Maybe he is feeling that the Americans and the Israelis want to replace him, and he wants to show them that he is boss,'' Saleh said.
Another dissident, political science professor Abdel Sattar Qassem, said Arafat appeared to be worried about talk of a new leadership, and that ``Rajoub is one of the names that has been looming.''
In his visit to Washington last week, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Arafat must be sidelined to hasten the emergence of a new Palestinian leadership. Israeli Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer named Rajoub, 46, as one of the potential new leaders, though among Palestinians, the powerful security chief is seen more as a kingmaker than a potential successor to Arafat.
President Bush has rejected Sharon's proposal that Washington cut ties with Arafat, but Ben-Eliezer was quoted as saying he was surprised by the harsh view senior U.S. officials had of the Palestinian leader.
Arafat, under intense pressure from the United States and Israel to take action against militants, convened the Fatah Revolutionary Council on Sunday and decided to dismantle the Al Aqsa Brigades militia, which has carried out many shooting attacks on Israelis in the past 16 months of fighting.
A day later, Arafat met with Rajoub and confronted him with reports the security chief had told associates he would not take actions against Fatah militiamen, despite Arafat's orders, Palestinian officials said.
The Hebrew-speaking Rajoub is known to have relatively good relations with Israeli security officials, and he has mostly kept the men under his direct control out of the current round of fighting with the Israelis.
However, nearly all of Rajoub's men are also Fatah loyalists, and, while endorsing a crackdown on Islamic militants, he has shied away from a confrontation with Fatah gunmen. Arafat also blamed Rajoub for the escape of 17 Palestinian prisoners, including Islamic militants. The prisoners were freed by a crowd that stormed the prison in the West Bank town of Hebron.
Ashrawi said she believed Arafat felt secure in his leadership, but that Israel's campaign against the Palestinian Authority was fraying tempers.
``It don't think it's a question of personal status that is the problem,'' she said. ``The real issue is that there is a pressure cooker effect on everybody.''
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