<Palestinians........go for "feel good" politics>
Unfortunately, you're right.
Here's what Arafat could have done, to isolate Israel, strain the U.S.-Israeli alliance, win a huge diplomatic victory, and greatly improve the chances of a peace treaty on his terms:
Announce that the Palestinian Authority is a charter member of the "Coalition of the Willing", and offer to send 10,000 soldiers to Iraq to fight alongside U.S. soldiers. Wouldn't be any stranger than Syrian soldiers fighting alongside U.S. soldiers in the last war.
Hold daily non-violent demonstrations throughout the West Bank, where every demonstrator holds a Palestinian flag in one hand, and an American flag in the other hand.
Position himself as the "peaceful center", opposed to the "violent extremes" of Likud and Hamas.
Form an alliance with the Labor party in Israel, and come up with a common platform.
The fact that the above is pure fantasy, means that, for the foreseable future, a Palestinian State is pure fantasy also. Very sad, how self-defeating the Palestinians are. I am coming around to the opinion, that there are no negotiating partners for Israel. Not Arafat, and not the available alternatives to Arafat, either. The only way the Palestinians are going to get a State, is if they put forward new leaders. And there is not the slightest sign of that happening. |
