Taking Side: Yassir Arafat v. Mahmoud Abbas

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which Palestinian leader is your favourite, the t-headed President or the besuited Prime Miniser? One has been the acknowledged leader of his people for decades now, while the other is arguably a Quisling imposed on the Palestinians by their enemies.

It's a tough choice, that's for sure.

complicating things is the fact that Abbas is a long time Arafat associate, suggesting that any Arafat-Abbas conflict is largely for the benefit of whitey.

― DV (dirtyvicar), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 15:46 (twenty-two years ago)

"taking side"! cockfarm. I am a fule and now people will make fun of.

― DV (dirtyvicar), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 15:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Arafat has accomplished more. Arafat has screwed up more. Arafat sells out the Palestinians constantly, in the form of corrupting their government, but not in the large way of capitulation to Israeli domination.

Next to Arafat, Abbas is a wraith. The proof of the pudding is in the eating and Abbas hasn't been able to amass enough power to do his job. Arafat, if nothing else, knows how to amass and exert power from his political base. He's a Boss Tweed sort of figure. Corrupt, but he knows how to work the levers. Abbas is more of a Wilsonian figure, but less effective.

― Aimless, Tuesday, 2 September 2003 17:02 (twenty-two years ago)

the whole drama of palestinian politics is so tragic. abbas is in an impossible position. i'm not sure what else to say.

― amateurist (amateurist), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 18:18 (twenty-two years ago)

a good'un on the current scene here: http://www.nybooks.com/articles/16521

― g--ff c-nn-n (gcannon), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 19:50 (twenty-two years ago)

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