Commentary: Should Arafat go, as some ask?

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- In light of the recent mad spiral of violence engulfing the Middle East, several respected political pundits have recently argued that "it is time for Yasser Arafat to go."

While the leader of the Palestine Authority may have certainly not gone out of his way to prevent the spread of violence as much as he could have, or should have, it is important to remember that Arafat is nonetheless the only elected leader in the Arab world.

On the one hand, we in the West want to promote and support democracy and freedom in the area -- of which there is a dire need -- yet ironically, we end up supporting, financing and befriending unelected self-appointed presidents, despots and potentates who claim to possess God-given rights to rule. Meanwhile, some talk about "removing" the only duly elected representative of the people -- corrupt as his administration may be.

Charles Krauthammer in Friday's Washington Post writes, "Alternatively, after Arafat there may be no national leadership. After all, the Palestinian Authority is an alien exile entity superimposed upon the West Bank and Gaza in 1993."

Hello? Alien entity? I will not make the retort that some in the Arab world make, namely, that Israel itself is an alien entity. Modern Israel has been with us for 54 years and has a right to exist as a society and a state.

But just what does that make the Israeli military administration that has been occupying the West Bank and the Gaza Strip since 1967? Are Lithuanian, Ethiopian and Russian Jews really more autochthonous to the Palestinian territories than other Palestinians, even if they emerge from Jordanian, Lebanese or Tunisian exile?

Krauthammer sees removing Arafat as advancing the peace process. He sees different strongmen, each ruling over their little areas similar to a Bantustan, or an Indian reservation, making their separate peace treaties with Israel.

Krauthammer calls it the "temporary solution" until a solid Palestinian leadership can emerge. What he really prescribes is a leadership that will offer little alternative but to accept Israel's dictum.

This vision of dividing the Palestinians in order to provide a respite to Israel is little more than a vision of neo-colonialism meant only to promote Israel's well-being. It could never provide the foundation for a lasting peace based upon mutual consent.

Those who profess that idea should not fool themselves; removing Arafat would not serve the peace process, but would only escalate the violence.

Arafat has been bashed, ignored and snubbed by the Bush administration, most recently over the "Karine A" incident, the ship carrying several tons of Iranian arms destined for the PA. Did the Israelis not import illegal guns during the British Mandate? Did Menachem Begin and his outlawed Irgun gang not run guns into British Mandated Palestine? And did Begin, who was placed on a wanted list as a terrorist by the British government not later convert into a recognized statesman? One can argue that Arafat finds himself today much in the same predicament that Begin did in 1947.

Begin and the Irgun were, of course, overtaken by the Haganah. It would doubtless be very convenient for Israel and the world if some Palestinian version of the Haganah were to sideline Arafat. But the reality is that Arafat represents the Palestinian equivalent of both the Irgun and the Haganah.

Yes, Arafat needs to realize that there is no alternative to peace, but removing him is not the answer and will serve neither Israel nor the Palestinians. Maybe offering him incentives, such as treating him as an equal partner in peace (as prior American and Israeli administrations did), would work more than sidelining him and positioning tanks around his office amid constant threats of violence. There was far less violence in Israel and the territories when both parties were seated at the negotiating table.

A cornered animal is often left with little choice but to fight his way out of his corner.

For peace to become a reality, Israel must also show that it is serious about ending the occupation. Israel must remove the humiliating roadblocks that force Palestinians to add grueling hours to their daily commute, stop demolishing Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem and other parts of the territories and start treating the Palestinians as equals in their quest for peace.

Short of that, realizing peace will remain an unattainable dream.