It seems the media pack, like a Tour de France pack, has turned some kind of corner on Yassir Arafat. Note the skepticism shown by these news outlets regarding Arafat’s recent deal with Qureia:
AP:
‘Qureia withdrew his 10-day-old resignation letter and prepared to take charge of part of the security forces formerly under Arafat’s control. But the promises Arafat made to defuse the crisis were vague, and left Palestinians wondering whether real power would change hands.’
Reuters:
‘But Arafat, a former guerrilla leader, has not honored similar promises in the past. Tuesday’s deal leaves him in charge of national security and intelligence which encompass the bulk of Palestinian security personnel. ‘
BBC:
‘Cabinet ministers who attended the talks say Mr Arafat has agreed to hand over the police forces to Mr Qurei who tendered his resignation 10 days ago. However correspondents note that this is a promise that has been made before and never implemented. The more powerful Palestinian security bodies, the intelligence and national security services, remain firmly under Mr Arafat’s control.’
Financial Times:
‘Officials familiar with recent contacts between the two men said it was basically a cosmetic arrangement to cool the current crisis and unlikely to herald fundamental changes in the Palestinian Authority.’
Washington Post:
‘While the promise of greater control over police forces was apparently enough for Qureia to withdraw the resignation he submitted 10 days ago, it was unclear whether the moves were a mere stopgap measure to end the current crisis or if they could lead to fundamental change in the Palestinian Authority. Reforms frequently have been announced but not implemented, and there was no timetable for enacting Tuesday’s measures.’
LA Times:
‘It remained unclear whether Arafat would make good on his promise of reform or whether his latest moves were aimed mainly at quieting the dissent that has grown considerably louder in recent weeks…Arafat has resisted past attempts at reform. There would be skepticism this time, too, acknowledged Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath, ‘until people see on the ground what has happened.”
Toronto Star:
‘Arafat is expected to spell out the details of the agreement in the coming days. But coming in the wake of multiple earlier promises for reform, it was unclear if the latest plan will amount to anything more than symbolic damage control against 10 days of fractious infighting…Arafat will retain the power, his prestige will not be affected,” a downcast Palestinian minister without portfolio Qadoura Fares told the Star as the details of the Arafat- Qureia agreement were being finalized.’
