Syrian President: Shun Arafat

An interesting tidbit from DEBKA.

Informed Arab circles, including high Saudi and Egyptian officials, are wondering what lies behind an order the Syrian president Bashar Assad has just issued to the radical Damascus-based Palestinian “Fronts” to break off all operational ties with Yasser Arafat.

Apparently, the Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Democratic Front from the Liberation of Palestine, the Hamas, Jihad Islami and Ahmed Jibril’s Popular Front fro the Liberation of Palestinian –General Command have all cut ties with Arafat and his al Aqsa. They have cancelled meetings with Arafat's operatives and have turned down invitations to Ramallah. Is this a good sign or a bad sign? Is Arafat being shunned because he's a lame duck and they plan to continue terrorist operations without him? Is he being shunned because he won't or can't control the terrorists and Syria wants it to stop rather than having the U.S. stop it for them? Is Syria cooperating with U.S. requests? Is Syria trying to clearly extricate itself from any collaboration between Saddam and Arafat? The DEBKA article explores each of the angles.


Why isn't my crystal ball working today?