U.S. and Arafat: Telling it like it isn’t

By Kyle Williams

In the past few weeks, we have seen the escalation in the Middle East of Israeli retaliation.

With Arafat contained to the second-story in his office building, Israel is beefing up action against Arafat’s groups and starting their own Operation Enduring Freedom – with much criticism from U.S. coalition forces.

Additionally, the United States is playing moderator now more than ever, attempting to create stability by sending Secretary of State Colin Powell to the Mideast.

Powell called for an end to violence and an end to the response to violence. I agree with him that we must have an end to violence. However, I understand the “cycle” of violence theory: If Israel will not retaliate, the Palestinians will stop the violence. In theory, the idea may sound good, but in reality, the idea is false.

When Israel, for example, started its withdrawal from West Bank towns, a 10-year-old suicide bomber killed 13 Israeli Defense Force soldiers. Many times, Israel has not responded to such terrorist actions.

In a recent Washington Post article, entitled “Defiant Sharon Losing Support in White House,” an unnamed top Bush administration aide is quoted as saying, “Sharon is arguably doing what he thinks needs to be done. After he’s finished, what’s next? The fear is that he knows no other way than being tough.”

Being tough? Sharon has shown anything but being tough. Since the beginning of his term, the Israeli people have wanted a real response to the terrorism they receive every day. However, Ariel Sharon has done little serious retaliation.

In a statement, the U.S., United Nations, European Union and Russia urged for an Israeli withdrawal. “We call on Israel to halt immediately its military operations. We call for an immediate meaningful cease-fire and immediate Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian cities, including Ramallah, specifically including Chairman Arafat’s headquarters,” the statement read.

One question: why don’t they ask Arafat, his PLO, PNA and Fatah to end the violence, or military action will be the consequence? Why is the international community always on the back of Israel?

As world criticism mounts, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan stated, “I am, frankly, appalled by the humanitarian situation [in Israel].” I agree with Mr. Annan, but it is caused by terrorism from Palestinian groups. The U.N. secretary believes it is caused by Israel.

There is draft legislation proposed by Sens. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., that would define the PLO as a terrorist group, closing its Washington, D.C., office and deny visas to top officials.

This is a shock from Sen. Feinstein, for sure. While I believe this legislation would do good, it is not enough. We must define Yasser Arafat to be just what he is – a terrorist.

Arafat is no diplomat, leader, security chief or spokesman. He is not who we need to be negotiating with. He claims he can’t control the terrorist group, so what is the point of talking with him in the first place?

Israel is not clean. Everything they are doing over there is not totally right, and I don’t agree with everything they do. However, there comes a time where you have to take a stand against terrorism.

In every war like this, there are always innocents in the crossfire. That happened in Afghanistan during U.S. raids and bombings. The same is happening in Israel, but you have to take a stand against terrorists – it is essential.

The suicide bombings that have been executed in the past months have, mostly, been carried out by Arafat’s own Fatah and Al-Aksa Martyrs Brigade. Hypothetically speaking, if those groups were doing that in the United States, there is no question that he would be defined a terrorist and captured by U.S. forces. However, because this is done in a far-away land, we are not giving him his rightful title.

Although the majority of American citizens believe Arafat is a terrorist, the Bush administration obviously does not – or will not publicly say so. In this world of doublespeak, disinformation and relative truths, the American leadership must take a stand.

Can’t our leaders just be sure of one thing? Yasser Arafat is a terrorist.


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Kyle Williams

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Kyle Williams is 16 years old and a high school student living in central Oklahoma. Read more of Kyle Williams's articles here.