Thursday, September 11, 2003
Israel News : Jerusalem Post Internet Edition - IDF troops seize PA ministry near Arafat's Muqata
The building, located just south of Yasser Arafat's Muqata compound, gives the soldiers a vantage point of the Muqata and sends a direct and clear message to Arafat that the IDF is present in the West Bank city.
Palestinian officials expressed concern over the takeover, saying that they expected the IDF to impose a total siege on Arafat.
The action came just hours before the security cabinet was set to meet to discuss the possibility of expelling Arafat.
Military sources confirmed that troops had taken positions in the city, saying that the move was made to send a signal and message to the Palestinian Authority and Yasser Arafat...
Is this more half-measures? Are they just going to try to "send a message?" What's the message? That they don't know what the hell to do? Will they now enforce an actual siege, with no visitors coming and going? How long would that last, chafing away for weeks and weeks forcing no real changes in the PA power structure as they all just sit and wait for Arafat to emerge again?
We wait and watch the Arafat waltz for another round.
