Yasser Arafat evasive on reform demands

RAMALLAH – Yasser Arafat, pressed by his legislature to commit to promised reforms in writing, has largely been evasive, disappointed lawmakers said yesterday, after two meetings with the Palestinian leader.

Arafat’s only concession so far is an assurance that his prime minister, Ahmed Qureia, can appoint Cabinet ministers, said the legislators, members of a committee set up last month to write a reform plan, following growing chaos in the West Bank and Gaza. Qureia briefly resigned last month to protest his lack of powers.Arafat has refused to share power and has run the Palestinian Authority with a system of patronage, nepotism and official corruption.The Palestinian leader has evaded reform demands by the international community, most recently Egypt which wants him to relinquish some control over the security services ahead of an Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005.However, he appears to have been shaken by growing dissatisfaction at home, including unrest in Gaza and open criticism of his rule.Palestinian officials said yesterday that Arafat, sending a message through envoys, has offered Cabinet posts to two of his most outspoken critics, Mohammed Dahlan and Samir Mashrawi, who played a key role in last month’s protests in Gaza against Arafat’s appointment of a relative to a top security job there.- Nampa-APQureia briefly resigned last month to protest his lack of powers.Arafat has refused to share power and has run the Palestinian Authority with a system of patronage, nepotism and official corruption.The Palestinian leader has evaded reform demands by the international community, most recently Egypt which wants him to relinquish some control over the security services ahead of an Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005.However, he appears to have been shaken by growing dissatisfaction at home, including unrest in Gaza and open criticism of his rule.Palestinian officials said yesterday that Arafat, sending a message through envoys, has offered Cabinet posts to two of his most outspoken critics, Mohammed Dahlan and Samir Mashrawi, who played a key role in last month’s protests in Gaza against Arafat’s appointment of a relative to a top security job there.- Nampa-AP