Qorei lets Arafat pick cabinet
2003-09-16 09:15
Jerusalem - The Palestinian premier-designate handed Yasser Arafat the authority to appoint most of his new cabinet, setting up a new confrontation with Israel, as the United Nations Security Council debated Israel's threats against the Palestinian leader.
The multiplying points of friction between the two sides further stymied peace efforts as international criticism of Israel's pledge to "remove" Arafat gathered strength on Monday.
In Gaza late on Monday, several Israeli tanks and bulldozers moved into the Rafah refugee camp on the Egyptian border and destroyed some abandoned buildings, Palestinians said. Such operations have become routine as Israel tries to stop arms smuggling.
Diplomats said it would be difficult to form a new Palestinian government under the circumstances and warned of more violence.
Sixteen of the 24 ministers in Ahmed Qorei's new cabinet will be appointed by Fatah councils controlled by Arafat, officials said on Monday, though Israel has said it will have nothing to do with an Arafat-dominated government.
One official, Hani al-Hassan, who is close to Arafat, said it was undecided whether Fatah would appoint the ministers directly or offer Qorei a list of candidates for his choice. The other eight ministers would represent different movements or independents.
Boycotting Arafat
Israel is boycotting Arafat, charging that he is responsible for three years of violence. Last week, Israel's security cabinet declared it would "remove" Arafat, but no action was immediately taken.
Instead, various ministers spoke of options. Vice Premier Ehud Olmert said killing Arafat was one of them, but on Monday, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom backed away from that.
"It is not the official policy of the Israeli government," Shalom told reporters. "We don't speak about any killing. We didn't speak about it before, and we don't speak about it today."
The security cabinet acted after two Palestinian suicide bombings that killed 15 Israelis last week. However, the United States joined European nations and Arab countries in denouncing Israel's ominous declaration.
The UN Security Council convened to consider a resolution banning Israeli actions against Arafat. Addressing the body, Israeli Ambassador Dan Gillerman outlined Israel's case against Arafat. Gillerman accused the council of "hypocrisy" for considering the Palestinian resolution while not convening to discuss Palestinian suicide bombings and shootings.
Envoy stalks out
The Palestinian envoy, Nasser al-Kidwa, stalked out of the council chamber when Gillerman began to speak.
UN Mideast envoy Terje Roed-Larsen told the Security Council the peace process has broken down and that he fears even worse bloodshed lies ahead. He accused both Israelis and Palestinians of failing to "seriously and actively" address each other's concerns, and stressed that Arafat is the democratically elected leader who "embodies Palestinian identity and national aspirations".
Israeli leaders accuse Arafat of sabotaging peace efforts and blocking a crackdown on the militants, whose suicide bombings and shootings have killed hundreds of Israelis over the past three years. The Palestinians say the Israelis have tied their hands by carrying out their own raids against militants, frequently killing them and sometimes civilians as well, angering the Palestinian public.
Outgoing Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, who was backed by Israel and the United States, resigned on September 6 after four months in office marked by frequent disagreement with Arafat over the control of security forces and cabinet appointments. Qorei has told confidants he has no intention of challenging Arafat, who selected him for the job last week.
'The two won't go together'
Raanan Gissin, speaking for Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, said the Palestinians face a choice between sticking with Arafat or establishing a Palestinian state. "The two won't go together. They won't have a state and Arafat - not when Arafat is in control of the process," Gissin said.
The Arab League on Monday condemned Israel's decision against Arafat and warned Israel against harming him.
The US government has said Arafat should be sidelined but not sent into exile. Given the Israeli threats, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said "there is no possibility in the current atmosphere" to set up a Palestinian government.
At his West Bank compound in Ramallah, Arafat emerged from his office again on Monday and flashed victory signs to about 200 Palestinian demonstrators who gathered - as they have since Israel announced its decision - to show their support. Arafat pledged to seek peace.
- SAPA