Analysis / If reforms to be made, Arafat will make them
By Zvi Bar'el, Ha'aretz Middle East Analyst
Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat's call Wednesday for elections is essentially aimed at strengthening his position, and it is unclear to what extent his talk of reforming national institutions is genuine.
Arafat, who delivered a televised address to the Palestinian Legislative Council in Ramallah, knows that he will win landslide support in any election, and that this will cement his power. He certainly wouldn't talk of going to elections if he had any doubt over the outcome.
His election talk is also an attempt to address the demand by Israel, the Arab states and the Americans, for a fundamental reform of Palestinian governing institutions and for them to be rendered more transparent.
It is the first time Arafat has spoken of institutional change and reform, but he did not indicate how deep this might run. There was absolutely no hint in his speech that he has any doubts about his ability to lead his people. He is not former Egyptian President Gamel Abdel Nasser, who addressed the nation several times during a period of political crisis, telling them, "If you don't want me, I'll leave." That always prompted mass pro-Nasser demonstrations and calls for him not to desert his people.
Arafat, however, does not feel he is in a position of weakness. He was not at all apologetic in his speech. All he conceded was that in every struggle for nationhood there are mistakes, but that these have been marginal on the Palestinian side.
The bottom line: If there are reforms to be made, Arafat will be the one to make them.
The Palestinian leader's call for an end to attacks on Israeli civilians is important, because it was made in what was essentially a speech to the nation. The rationale he gave for not carrying out these attacks was also new: that they do not serve the Palestinian national interest, while they do serve Israeli interests. |
