It was a power grab between the growing terrorist movements, predecessors to Hamas, Islamic Jihad, etc., and Arafat and his Fatah.
I'm sure you've read how Arafat has been able to accumulate a huge (estimate at least a billion dollars) over the years. It's my understanding, that there are equivalent wealthy power brokers in each terrorist movement, although they are motivated more by religious doctrine than Arafat and his group(s).
IMO, the Palestinian people have been used by their self-appointed leaders and those who would vie to be leaders. By focusing on the infidels (Israelis, the US and the West in general), they are kept in poverty, in camps, rather than actually led by real leaders.
Keep in mind that Israel has assimilated more Jewish refugees, refugees who lost their homes in Arab lands, than the original number of refugees who left Israel.
If the Arab leaders were of a mindset to provide for the Palestinian people, rather than leaving them to be pawns, they have the vast resources in both land and money to do this. It would be a drop in the bucket, given the wealth and land.
The real issue has been one of power and then the issue feeds on itself, with both sides, taking stronger and stronger sides, neither wanting to be perceived as "giving in." |
