Hanan Ashrawi, a veteran Palestinian politician, says it is better for Yasser Arafat to relinquish his absolute control over the Palestinian Authority. In an interview with a Swiss newspaper, Ashrawi warned that if Arafat does not delegate some of his powers to the Prime Minister, he should expect wider unrest among Palestinians. Ahmad Qurei, the Palestinian Prime Minister, resigned on July 17 in protest against Arafat's absolute control over Palestinian intelligence services in the occupied territories, but agreed to temporarily remain in his position. The crisis that has emerged at the leadership level of the Palestinians has led to violent protests and several kidnappings by Palestinian extremists. Ashrawi stated that she does not know whether the existing political tensions will lead to a civil war, but she expressed concern about new rumors of advanced weapon sales in the Gaza Strip.
Hanan Ashrawi: It is better for Arafat to relinquish his absolute control
Hanan Ashrawi urges Yasser Arafat to give up his absolute control over the Palestinian Authority to prevent further unrest. Ahmad Qurei resigned in protest against Arafat's leadership but remains temporarily in office. The leadership crisis has led to violence and kidnappings, raising concerns about potential civil conflict.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Hanan Ashrawi has urged Yasser Arafat to share power within the Palestinian Authority to prevent unrest, following Prime Minister Ahmad Qurei's resignation in protest of Arafat's control. The leadership crisis has resulted in violent protests and kidnappings.
- Ahmad Qurei resigned on July 17 but agreed to stay temporarily.
- The political crisis has led to violent protests and concerns about civil conflict.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Palestinian Authority has faced ongoing challenges regarding governance and authority, particularly under Arafat's leadership, which has been criticized for lack of democracy and transparency.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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