The Israeli government marked the 10th anniversary of the Oslo agreement in dramatic fashion, by deciding to threaten Yasser Arafat. Interrupting an official visit to India Sharon met with his inner-cabinet and quickly agreed "in principle" to deport the Palestinian leader. The feasibility of such a move was questioned even by the Israeli media. Maariv pointed out that the move, while designed to placate Israel's extreme right, is opposed by the Americans. The prospect of Arafat getting killed during the attempt to expel him worries both the Americans and the Israelis. Israeli security services oppose Arafat's expulsion because it would lead to a flare-up in the self-rule areas and would actually give Arafat a wider platform abroad.
Interestingly, Arab and international anger over the decision fell short of that expressed during Israel's rampage through the West Bank a year and a half ago. Israel, one must recall, has threatened to kill Arafat before. Some 27 months ago it leaked top secret intelligence reports to this effect.
So what does Israel hope to achieve by threatening to deport Arafat?
There are many possible explanations. One is that it wants to distract attention from the crimes committed by the occupation forces. Another is that it wants to boost Sharon's position and that of the extreme right in Israeli political life. Israel may also be trying to pressure Arafat into making further concessions. Alternatively, it may be seeking international, regional, and Palestinian favours in return for keeping the Palestinian president in the occupied territories. By humouring Washington on this matter Israel offers the Americans an opportunity to pose as a fair power-broker in the region, and some of America's friends the chance to show that they still have some influence in Washington.
* This week's Soapbox speaker is a Palestinian political analyst.
The Israeli government marked the 10th anniversary of the Oslo agreement in dramatic fashion, by deciding to threaten Yasser Arafat. Interrupting an official visit to India Sharon met with his inner-cabinet and quickly agreed "in principle" to deport the Palestinian leader. The feasibility of such a move was questioned even by the Israeli media. Maariv pointed out that the move, while designed to placate Israel's extreme right, is opposed by the Americans. The prospect of Arafat getting killed during the attempt to expel him worries both the Americans and the Israelis. Israeli security services oppose Arafat's expulsion because it would lead to a flare-up in the self-rule areas and would actually give Arafat a wider platform abroad.
