Soccer Dad

Prerequisites for sovereignty

Here are excerpts from a surprising NY Times editorial from March 1996.

Choosing Mr. Arafat in the first place was one of several distressing signs that the Palestinian Arabs were not yet ready for running their own country, which would require them to guarantee the rights and security of neighboring Israel. Late last month and earlier this month, Palestinian terrorists went on a terror spree that left 60 Israelis dead.

Mr. Arafat has been accused by the Israelis of fomenting terror since he returned from exile in 1994. He has denied any wrongdoing, but Palestinian terrorists with ties to Arafat have been implicated in terror since 1994 and he has not made any effort to restrain the terror.

An international review this summer is supposed to determine whether Palestinians have met the standards of governance and interethnic harmony that would justify granting it independence under a timetable set by the Security Council. It's been clear lately that Palesitnian leaders have failed the test. But the Palestinian Arabs could take a big step toward countering that impression by choosing a new prime minister who is not tainted by his actions during terror attacks against Israelis and who could serve as a moderating, uniting influence in the divided province.

Actually I lied. But my question still is: If the Kosovar Albanians need to show that they're worthy of independence why not the Palestinians?

Posted by SoccerDad at March 10, 2005 5:16 AM