Yasser
Arafat urges Palestinian groups to exercise "restraint" ahead of the upcoming
Israeli elections. His Excellency "invites our Palestinian people to show their
restraint and not allow themselves to be dragged along by the Israeli escalation
and provocation, on the approach of Israeli elections," the official WAFA news
agency reported. Arafat's statement was in apparent response to the bombing last Sunday in which two members of the military wing of his Fatah movement exploded in Tel Aviv, killing 22. Arafat reportedly told a cabinet meeting that such attacks have severely harmed the Palestinian cause in world and Israeli public opinion. (Unfortunately, the terrorists who infiltrated Sunday into northern and southern Israel --in both cases within sovereign Israel, not the West Bank or Gaza -- killing two Israelis, apparently didn't listen.)
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, in response, accused Arafat of attempting to influence the Israeli elections. "We have been informed of remarks by the president of the Palestinian Authority calling on terrorist organizations to refrain from carrying out attacks until the elections," Sharon told his weekly cabinet meeting.
"For the president of the Palestinian Authority, the murder of Israelis is a permanent goal coupled with political considerations. In his opinion, murders of Israelis before an electoral period are legitimate, but should be stopped in the run-up and be resumed after the vote," a statement from the Prime Minister's Office said.
Sharon is missing the point. He should be celebrating Arafat's gift, as manna from heaven. The Palestinian leader's call for restraint by terrorists is a clear expression of his recognition that attacks help Sharon. By calling for restraint, he seeks to help Mitzna.
No wonder. Mitzna says that if he cannot reach an agreement by negotiations, he will automatically withdraw to "secure borders" and dismantle all settlements in Gaza and many in Judea and Samaria. He will divide Jerusalem and hand over its Old City to the Arabs. He will use Ehud Barak's last, most desperate offer in Taba as his starting point.
Desperation is showing in the Mitzna camp. Despite all the mudslinging at Sharon, despite the huge help from the High Court, Labor is losing votes, not gaining. Mitzna has now abandoned hope of getting votes from the right, and is aiming to win more from the left! He is stating that he will never join with Sharon, will never form a government of national unity. What a patriot! He is signaling his supporters: "I am a man of my word, of my convictions, a man who serves his conscience."
Arafat is also signaling his people: "Mitzna is our man. He will give us what we want. He will retreat from Gaza and most of the West Bank unilaterally. He will tear down settlements unconditionally. He will hand us an unrestricted state with Al-Quds as its capital, without conditions. He will allow the free flow of refugees into Palestine."
Arafat is begging his rebellious terrorist cadres: "Please, fellas, just hold back a few weeks, a few days of restraint. Then you will be free to do as you please."
Arafat wants a couple of weeks of respite from terror to lull Israeli voters into forgetfulness so they will elect a government to implement the Palestinian "piece plan" -- the phased strategy of forced withdrawal and retreat under fire.
Salami is on the menu, my fellow Israelis.
Arafat is telling his people to control their appetite, for the day of the feast is drawing near.
He is telling Israelis: "Vote Mitzna. Serve yourself. As lunch."
Arafat is telling his people to be a little patient, so our people can, with one simple act, justify their campaign of terror and redeem the murder of a thousand Israelis since Oslo.
He is telling Israelis: "Vote Mitzna. Reward us."
Arafat is telling his people to wait, just wait, so a Mitzna-led government can hand over the keys to a hostile nation, unrepentant, unrestrained, uncontrollable, in the hills above us, armed with missiles, and RPGs, and all the explosives and biochem weapons they see fit to produce. So that Mitzna can spur civil war among the Jews by forcing hundreds of thousands from their homes -- homes the returning refugees will joyously occupy.
Arafat is not telling us that peace will follow the overthrow of Sharon. On the contrary. The terror will resume after the election, regardless of who wins. The struggle will just be easier and faster with Sharon's soft-touch rival, bent on retreat at all costs, without hesitation, without conditions.
Labor and Likud are two sides of the same coin, Arafat believes, has always believed. All Israelis share the same destiny, and he wants to help us to realize it, quickly, when the time is right. He is telling us what to do, my fellow citizens, and how to get there, at a date certain, and soonest:
He is urging us on, to do the right thing: "Vote Mitzna. And go to Hell."