SETTLE IT WITH ELECTIONS:

Palestinian Politicians Try to Head Off a Power Struggle (STEVEN ERLANGER, 11/06/04, NY Times)

Mahmoud Abbas, known as Abu Mazen, the No. 2 figure in the Palestine Liberation Organization, has made common cause with Ahmed Qurei, known as Abu Ala, the prime minister of the Palestinian Authority. Solid politicians with little popular or local base, they are seeking to embrace the two Palestinians with the most street credibility and guns behind them: the effective bosses of the security services in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, Jibril Rajoub and Muhammad Dahlan, respectively.

Mr. Dahlan served as interior minister in Mr. Abbas's cabinet, but it is Mr. Rajoub who controls the more important and populous West Bank.

The support of Marwan Barghouti, currently serving five consecutive life sentences in an Israeli jail and popular in the street, will also be significant. There is speculation that he might at some point be freed in a prisoner exchange.

At the same time, Palestinian officials and analysts say, Mr. Abbas and Mr. Qurei have opened discussions with militant groups sworn to Israel's destruction, like Hamas and Islamic Jihad, whose spokesmen have called for a "collective leadership'' in which they have a voice. Mr. Qurei may travel Saturday to Gaza, where Hamas is strong, to argue that Palestinian unity now is imperative. Gaza factions, including Hamas, issued a statement on Friday pledging stability and order.

There is also money at stake. Mr. Arafat is said to have direct control over considerable sums, involving the P.L.O. as well as the Palestinian Authority.

With the Israelis, there have been contacts about preserving stability in the Palestinian lands and about Mr. Arafat's burial. Israel wants him to be buried either abroad, in Tunisia, or in the Gaza Strip.

But Israelis are willing for Mr. Arafat to have a presidential send-off, with Arab leaders in attendance - even Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi of Libya, if he wants to come - and prominent Westerners like President Jacques Chirac of France and former President Jimmy Carter.

Official Western diplomatic representation will generally be at a lower level. Gaza, which is a helicopter ride from Arab nations and would not require a visit to Israel, appears acceptable to Arab leaders and the international community, but it is likely to be a focus for popular Palestinian unhappiness and unrest unless handled carefully, officials say.

The Palestinians may prefer Ramallah to Gaza, and it is likely that any grave site would be described as provisional, pending formal burial in the capital of an independent Palestinian state.

Mr. Sharon should release Barghouti now--a goodwill gesture, which actually benefits Israel more than the extremists.

Posted by Orrin Judd at November 6, 2004 8:54 AM