Judeofascists eventually blurt it: there IS a connection between the Palestinian issue and the war on Iraq.
Amos Gilad: Saddam's fall will lead to Arafat's as well
The Associated Press
Oct. 17, 2002
If Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein is driven from power it is likely to bring about the fall of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat as well, Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories Maj.-Gen. Amos Gilad said Wednesday.
Gilad outlined Israel's thinking about how a US military strike against Iraq might play out, and predicted Saddam's ouster would have ramifications for the Mideast conflict, including the demise of Arafat.
Saddam is a strong backer of the Palestinian cause, and "is a symbol to tyrants like Yasser Arafat and others," Gilad told a gathering of journalists and diplomats in Jerusalem. "If [Saddam] will collapse, it will create an earthquake in this area." Saddam's fall would accelerate a deterioration in support for Arafat even among his closest allies, Gilad said.
"Arafat is in decline as a result of economic, social, and political elements and this will be increased after a war against Iraq," Gilad said. "There is no alternative but to replace Yasser Arafat," he added. "I don't mean in violent ways. I recommend that he retire."
Gilad said that if Arafat were to pass from the scene, it would help Israel and the Palestinians to return to peace talks that broke down at the beginning of last year.
Arafat "sponsors" terror, believing he can weaken Israel and win more concessions, asserted Gilad. In the 1991 Gulf War, Arafat sided with Saddam, a position that left the Palestinians weakened after Iraq's resounding defeat.
The Palestinian leader dreams that Israel will, through peace talks, agree to [give up East Jerusalem] now controlled by Israel, he said. In this way, Arafat hopes to overwhelm [Jerusalem's] Israeli population with Palestinians. But Israel will never agree to this, Gilad said.
[...]
jpost.com
I couldn't resist editing the last paragraph <g> |
