UPDATED: ARAFAT WINS AGAIN

Ahmed Qurei retracts resignation
Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei on Tuesday retracted his resignation, ending a two-week standoff with PA Chairman Yasser Arafat. The move is seen as a major victory for Arafat, who in the last two weeks has been facing one of the most serious challenges to his autocratic rule. ...

Arafat and Qurei later walked out of the closed-door meeting, exchanging kisses on the cheeks, smiling and holding up their hands together. ... Qurei thanked Arafat for his insistence on rejecting the resignation and reaffirming his confidence in him. ...

Arafat, for his part, praised my beloved and longtime companion Qurei for withdrawing his resignation and called on the Palestinians to close ranks in the face of the Israeli oppressors.  In an implicit reference to allegations of financial corruption in the PA, Arafat complained that Israel was continuing to hold large sums of money from tax revenues levied from Palestinians.
He accused Israel of pursuing its aggression against our women, children, infrastructure and institutions.   Addressing the journalists, Arafat said jokingly: There are more important things than Abu Ala (Quei) and me. Jerusalem is burning and there is a conspiracy against the city. You must not ignore this.

SEE:  Deal Leaves Arafat in Charge of Most PA Security Forces
Palestinian Prime Minister Qurei rescinded his resignation on Tuesday after a deal that leaves Arafat in charge of the bulk of Palestinian security personnel. Under the agreement, Arafat will retain control over the Palestinian intelligence service and armed forces, Palestinian officials said. (Ha'aretz)