Okay, first a synopsis on the Haifa bombing.
A bomber charged into a crowded seaside restaurant in this northern Israeli city on Saturday afternoon and detonated explosives that killed at least 19 people, besides herself. At least three of the dead were children.
The attack, which also left 50 people wounded, raised the possibility of a harsh Israeli reprisal directed at Yasir Arafat, the Palestinian leader.
Two weeks ago the Israeli Cabinet made a statement that they intended to "remove" Arafat, using deliberately ambiguous language so as not to commit themselves to any one course of action. Was the bombing horrific? Indescribeably so. (But why do I feel like I have to spell that out whenever I make these posts?) With this latest attack, there have been renewed calls from Israeli politicians to "remove" Arafat. Like this one:
Israeli Health Minister Dan Naveh said Israel must not hesitate. "This awful attack today is definitely an opportunity, the correct opportunity, to implement the Cabinet decision to get rid of Arafat," he said. "It is clear to all of us that he is the biggest obstacle to reaching better days."
Really? It seems pretty fucking far from clear to me that this is the soulution. Nearly 100,000 people rallied to Arafat's compound two weeks ago in response to the "removal" decision. Kill him and the violence that will ensue will be literally unimaginable.
But the larger point here is that Arafat is just the Bogeyman, the guy Sharon takes out of the closet and dusts off whenever he needs someone to blame. Nevermind that Islamic Jihad, the group that has claimed responsibility, dispises Arafat. Next Sharon will be telling us that Arafat killed Kennedy. Here was Arafat's response today:
Arafat condemned the suicide attack and said it endangered Palestinian interests. Incoming Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia called the Haifa mayor to express his condolences.
Though apparently it's not good enough.
But the Israeli government said the Palestinian Authority, led by Mr. Arafat, was responsible because it had failed to order the Palestinian security forces to crack down on violent groups.
"Anyone who fails to prevent attacks is as guilty as someone who perpetrates it," said Mr. Gissin, the spokesman for the prime minister.
Sounds great. And what Palestinian security force would that be? The PA was reduced to nothing years ago, the idea being that Arafat, or someone like him, couldn't be trusted with an armed security force. Fair enough, but if that's going to be the case, how the hell is he supposed to stop this kind of shit? Oh and by the way:
Israel could settle for a lesser step, such as increasing Arafat's isolation by installing more tanks and troops around his West Bank headquarters, where he has been confined for nearly two years.
Good. Surround him with more tanks, more commandos, raze any building that...oh wait all the buildings in his compound have already been razed except the one he actually occupies....Okay, now tell him to get started on stopping these suicide bombings.
Let me try to write this out in a mathematical equation. In matters of working out a genuine peace plan: Arafat = dick. Let's stop using him as the bogeyman for every attack that takes place and start taking some concrete steps (like not building 600 new settlements in the West Bank maybe? How stupid is...nevermind) to end this kind of...what? Horror? Horror is too gentle a word for something that makes me want to pull out my hair and sit in a corner with my hands covering my face.
Sharon, Shoul Mofaz, and their whole crew have got to go. These guys have never been serious about a just solution for Palestinians, and until that happens, these attacks will continue. But don't worry, just blame Arafat and that should take care of the problem.
600 new settlements in the West Bank - Worst Idea Ever!