TEARS OF A CLOWN

Tears of an Appeaser
When last we saw Barbara Plett she was shedding tears over the departure of Yasser Arafat from Ramallah - as well as any pretense of objectivity. Now that Arafat's condition has [died]...., how she's doing? About the same I'd venture:

It may be true that the favoured presidential candidate Mahmoud Abbas has a completely different style of leadership from Mr Arafat's. But his political vision and terms for reaching a peace agreement are the same: a full Israeli withdrawal from all of the West Bank and Gaza, sovereignty in East Jerusalem, and recognition of the right of return for refugees, including to Israel.

Many Palestinians believe it was because Mr Arafat adhered to these Palestinian "red lines" that Israel and America declared him an obstacle to peace. They predict that the same charge, sooner or later, will be levelled at Mr Abbas. They also point out that Mr Abbas is politically much weaker than Mr Arafat, and therefore much less able to deviate from the red lines, even if he should want to.

Arafat was an obstacle to peace because he insisted on "red lines?" It wasn't because he never forswore terror? It wasn't because he was corrupt? It wasn't because he lied and negotiated in bad faith? It wasn't because of the "Aksa Intifada?" It wasn't because of the Karine-A? It wasn't because he rejected any agreement at Camp David?

And that last sentence is an implicit admission here that Arafat was indeed an obstacle to peace. I wouldn't expect Plett to realize that; after all she's blinded by the tears of an appeaser.