Arafat's fate?

[Arthur Dent]

damn, I've been following this and restraining myself from posting about it.

All I can say is, if Arafat dies, that's it, game over, the Middle East is BEYOND fucked.

Arafat is the ONLY voice of reason the Palestinian extremists will even take the time to listen to. They don't do what he asks, but they at least listen.

Second, Sharon's government is the most extreme, hardline government in Isreali history. Even the BBC reporters and German reporters are calling them on it, pointing out that responding to violence with overwhelming force is just creating new violence.

Every time there is a new peace proposal (like the new one from the Saudi's that was APPROVED by the Arab nations and Arafat) the extremeists try to destroy it with violence. And they always succeed because Isreali responds with large scale violence.

Isreali exists becasue of the philosophy of overwhelming force against anyone who opposes them. It worked in their wars. hell, Egypt only recognised them as a legit nation to get back the Sinai Paninsula after Isreali seized it in war. But that's not going to work against the Palestinians.

And the extremists on both sides will make sure of it. Isreali should be looking at this like a CIVIL war, not a war against foreign powers. They should be striking back SURGICALLY with the COOPERATION of the Palestinian Authority. Not with overwhelming, blunt, and widespread destruction.

And the extremists on BOTH sides need to be shut up.

Utherwise, it's all over. If Arafat dies, the Palestinian extrimists will get worse, the Isreali response will get worse, and it will be war with Isreali and it's neighbors.