[Abcdxxxx]

Ok sorry this is long.

There's a lot of speculation about Abbas. What we know for sure is that they created an image of two opposing idealogies, and bickered in public, when we know they're two peas in a pod. We know Arafat appointed him, and we know Arafat was meant to hold elections instead. We know Abbas was ineffectual, and we know that the nightly news began to speak about Hammas as the power chip. We know that by proxy, Sharon and the US began negotiating with Hamas, which they said they would never do. The importance of this can not be downplayed. It's a huge feather in Arafat's cap. We know that the Road Map was a pretty doomed plan, and neither side was sincere about it. The explanations for how and why are ornate...and speculative.... but that's partly because I'm not explaining it in simple terms or being articulate today.

I believe there are people within the PA with the authority to stop the violence. It's controlled chaos. When you're talking about people such as Arafat or even Abbas....really any of the high ups... and anyone running the various parties (hamas, fatah, plfp, etc. ) they are all the ones who drafted the original plans to drive Jews into the sea. They're the ones directly involved with murdering an American diplomat, etc. etc. Arafat says one thing to the western press, and another to his own people in Arabic. The violence is very well planned, and timed. I do think Arafat could be killed by his own people if he relents on "the dream", and this is why he must keep a harcore profile for his people while sending others to do the diplomatic tap dance. He loves living the fidel life with a bank full of cash.

I'm not aware of anyone with the ability to organize a coup. Unlike Iranians who feel misrepresented by their government, I think the palestinians have been brainwashed that Arafat is taking them somewhere. The only hope is if some young Palestinian, who has spent time in America, or a Westernized school, can actually take responsiblity and fight Arafat. The problem is that this has taken the PLO 40 years, with state sponsored support, to reach this momentum.... and they're murdering any palestinian arab who doesn't agree with it.

The right course of action? I agree with Rorschach. The US should step out of it. I personally think the PA and the UNRWA should pay for crimes against humanity and the misappropriation of funds meant to serve the palestinian people. Gaza should be returned to Egypt, and the West Bank, (excluding the holy sites), should return to Jordan, giving control back to nations with pre-existing peace treaties. There should be free elections as promised. Egypt, and Jordan could then facilitate in creating the first Palestinian State, with it's first appointed leader, and everything else that comes along with it. They must have a financial infrastructure independent from war, and they must take Israel as their closest allies if they plan to survive in the region (because Israel controls the water, and it's not like the Arab population as a whole have treated Palestinians with much respect). The reality is Palestinian Arabs love living in Israel. They love working in Israel... and if they don't... they should look into other options that don't involve detroying Israel.