by Gary Keenan, published in the Vancouver Sun, Tuesday, September 23,
2003
in reply to: Forget about peace until Arafat and Sharon are out of the
way, Norman Spector Sept. 19.
Arafat's fate should rest in Palestinian hands
Columnist Norman Spector neglected to mention the extremely important
fact that Yasser Arafat is the democratically elected leader of
Palestinians in the occupied territories.
U.S. President George W. Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
have no right whatsoever to insist that Mr. Arafat be removed from
power, especially when it is obvious he enjoys the overwhelming support
of Palestinians.
The real reason Messrs. Bush and Sharon want Mr. Arafat replaced is his
refusal, as demonstrated at Camp David in 2000, to betray his people by
accepting a deal that does not meet the minimum requirements of
international law. Nor will Mr. Arafat precipitate a civil war in the
occupied territories by ordering the disarmament of Hamas and other
militant groups.
The only solution is Israel's full withdrawal from all lands it
occupied in 1967. The vast majority of Palestinians are willing to sign
a peace treaty in exchange for a viable state comprising a mere 22
percent of their original homeland. With plummeting immigration and
increasing emigration of Jews, Israel should accept this generous offer
before it is too late. Time and demographics favour the Palestinians.