Jordan's King Abdullah says the Palestinian Authority
must be restructured to provide its constituents with the government they
deserve.
Abdullah, addressing the Brookings Institute, said PA reform is an issue
for the Palestinians themselves. But he suggested that the charges of
corruption affect every part of the regime of PA Chairman Yasser Arafat.
"I believe that the Palestinian Authority and the leadership there from
the top down are going
to have to seriously think in the next couple weeks how they're going to
articulate the visions of the people," Abdullah said. "People want to be
given a chance to move their country forward in the right way."
The Jordanian king said Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza as well
as abroad have assessed that they must ensure a transparent and efficient
government to advance toward statehood. He predicted that Arafat would come
under greater pressure within the next few months for a transparent
government and judiciary.
"The Palestinians are one of the most educated, capable societies that
we've ever seen Ñ smart people," Abdullah said. "They know what they need
for their future. And I think what you'll see more and more is them
demanding of their leaders to bring that about."
[President George Bush reiterated his support for a Palestinian state in
wake of a resolution by Israel's Likud Party against the establishment of
such an entity. "The president continues to believe that the best route to
peace is through the creation of the state of Palestine and side by side
security with Israel," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said on Monday.]
Earlier, Jordan approved what Islamic opposition sources termed would be
a massive anti-Israeli demonstration scheduled for Wednesday in Amman. The
demonstration is meant to mark the anniversary of the establishment of
Israel.
The call by Abdullah came as tension is rising within the PA. On late
Monday, PA minister Hassan Asfour was beaten by five masked men in the West
Bank city of Ramallah.
Asfour, responsible for relations with non-governmental groups, was one
of Arafat's ministers who had called for reform in the PA and the dismissal
of the chairman's aides. Asfour was brought to a nearby hospital for
treatment.
Earlier, Fatah agents tried to attack Arafat's chief financial adviser,
Mohammed Rashid, who has been accused of embezzlement. Rashid escaped his
attackers and was later sent abroad by Arafat.
For his part, Arafat decided against visiting the Palestinian refugee
camp of Jenin during his current tour of the West Bank. Palestinian sources
said the podium prepared for Arafat was torched and security forces assessed
that they could not guarantee the chairman's safety.
