(no subject)
Aug. 13th, 2001 12:49 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
libertangoReuters reports that the US is sending an envoy to talk to Yasser Arafat about, "ways of stopping the fighting."
The big question, of course, is, "Why?"
I mean, I don't oppose talking to Arafat in general terms... It's just that it's been apparent for over a decade now that Arafat has no control over anyone, except perhaps his bodyguard. So, what's the point?
This has long perplexed me. The Israelis keep behaving like every blade of grass amidst the Palestinians is directly subject to Arafat's whim. Yet, it's been clear since at least as far back as when he was taken by surprise by the original intifada in Israel while he was in Tunisia that he has no control over events, no control over the hotheads, and most particularly no control over Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, etc.
So, why negotiate with someone who has no capacity to deliver anything?
The only thing I can figure out is that the appearance of negotiations is more important than the efficacy of same, and Arafat has been about as willing to appear before cameras as an unemployed attorney who used to do OJ analysis.
Here's the quick acid test: "Mr. Arafat, you have to prove to me that talking to you has any effect at all. So... 12 months of cease fire, solely on your order. No other help."
"You have control over the Palestinians? You have authority?"
"Prove it."
The big question, of course, is, "Why?"
I mean, I don't oppose talking to Arafat in general terms... It's just that it's been apparent for over a decade now that Arafat has no control over anyone, except perhaps his bodyguard. So, what's the point?
This has long perplexed me. The Israelis keep behaving like every blade of grass amidst the Palestinians is directly subject to Arafat's whim. Yet, it's been clear since at least as far back as when he was taken by surprise by the original intifada in Israel while he was in Tunisia that he has no control over events, no control over the hotheads, and most particularly no control over Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, etc.
So, why negotiate with someone who has no capacity to deliver anything?
The only thing I can figure out is that the appearance of negotiations is more important than the efficacy of same, and Arafat has been about as willing to appear before cameras as an unemployed attorney who used to do OJ analysis.
Here's the quick acid test: "Mr. Arafat, you have to prove to me that talking to you has any effect at all. So... 12 months of cease fire, solely on your order. No other help."
"You have control over the Palestinians? You have authority?"
"Prove it."
