Annie
Diamond Member
- Nov 22, 2003
- 50,848
- 4,828
- 1,790
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20040718/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_palestinians
excerpts:
excerpts:
Palestinian Authority Offices Burned Down
25 minutes ago
By IBRAHIM BARZAK, Associated Press Writer
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Gunmen burned down the offices of Yasser Arafat (news - web sites)'s Palestinian Authority (news - web sites) in Gaza Sunday, as anger spread over the Palestinian leader's overhaul of his security forces that many saw as falling short of genuine reform.
Palestinian PM Resigns Amid Shakeup
In the West Bank city of Ramallah, Arafat met his prime minister, Ahmed Qureia, about the political crisis that erupted over the continuing violence in Gaza and Qureia's attempt to resign as head of the Palestinian government.
"I totally reject your resignation and consider it nonexistent," Arafat told Qureia at a meeting Sunday, according to Cabinet minister Saeb Erekat. Qureia told his Cabinet on Saturday he was firm in his decision to quit.
However, members of Arafat's own Fatah movement were furious, saying Moussa Arafat symbolizes the corruption and cronyism of the Palestinian Authority.
Dissatisfaction with Arafat's reforms spread throughout the Palestinian territories, though violence was confined to the Gaza Strip (news - web sites).
"Arafat now is at a crossroads. Either he makes a revolution inside his authority or the Palestinian people will make a revolution against him," said Ahmed Jamous, a student at Ramallah's Bir Zeit University. "The people want elections and good government, not to be ruled by a group of corrupt thieves."