Monday, August 18, 2003
John McCain has come back from his meeting in Israel where he met with Mahmoud Abbas (among others). He says Abbas admitted that Arafat is undermining him.
Israel News : Jerusalem Post Internet Edition
McCain, who led a bipartisan delegation of senators and congressmen to Israel and the Palestinian areas, recounted his exchange with Abbas in an interview with The Jerusalem Post editorial board.
"The thing I said is, 'Arafat is undermining you every way he can.' He said, 'that's right,'" McCain recalled.
McCain then asked Abbas about press reports, which say he has no authority over the Palestinian security forces. Again Abbas said, "that's right," and added that he has made bringing them under his control a top priority.
"He didn't say it, but I had the distinct impression that he doesn't feel that he's strong enough to take (the terrorist groups) on."[...]
You got that feeling too, eh? It's just not gonna happen until Arafat is gone.
