Another Setback for U.S. Middle East Policy

The news on September 27 that security chief Mohammed Dahlan has been dropped from the new Palestinian cabinet represents another setback for the Bush administration's roadmap to peace. Dahlan had been praised by both the Americans and Israelis as the Palestinian who would be able to crack down on groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad. He was ousted following consultations between Yasser Arafat and incoming prime minister Ahmed Qureia, who drew up a new Palestinian cabinet in which many of Arafat's longtime allies were given key positions. The cabinet will be presented to the Palestinian parliament for approval in the next week.

When U.S. President Bush presented the roadmap for peace last spring, he declared Arafat irrelevant and told the Palestinians that their leadership would need an Israeli and U.S. stamp of approval. The ensuing months have seen support for Arafat climbing to the point that today he has broader support from the Palestinian people than at any time since the Oslo Accords were signed in 1993.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon continues to talk tough, telling reporters in his most recent interview that Arafat may still be assassinated or exiled. "The sword is hanging over his head, and this is a good thing," he said. The Bush administration is extremely concerned and is reportedly using a combination of pressure tactics and bribes to keep the Israelis from killing Arafat. Whether or not the Israelis make a move against Arafat, it is clear the Palestinian people have no illusions about George Bush or his roadmap.