PALESTINIANS BEGIN TO DIVIDE POWER

THIS IS ONLY THE FIRST STEP IN A LONG PROCESS OF INFIGHTING AND EVENTUAL CIVIL WAR.

Arafat’s powers to be shared by Qureia, Abbas and PLC chair.
The Palestinian leadership, meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Wednesday, has decided to divide Yasser Arafat’s powers among Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia, Secretary-General of the Palestine Liberation Organization Mahmoud Abbas and Palestinian Legislative Council Chairman Rawhi Fatuh.

Also Wednesday, the Palestinians accepted an Egyptian offer to hold Arafat’s funeral in Cairo, before his burial in Ramallah, which was approved by Israel earlier in the day.

Arafat was described Wednesday as being in the “final phase” of his life at a Paris hospital.

The PA leaders decided that Abbas (also known as Abu Mazen) will control the PLO (which is formally above the Palestinian Authority), Qureia (also known as Abu Ala) will be responsible for the PA government and the National Security Council, and Fatuh will take over Arafat’s official position as PA chairman.

The division of powers was expected to take effect immediately.