Arafat wins power tussle as Abbas quits Palestinian post

Mahmoud Abbas leaves his office shortly after submitting his resignation to parliament in the West Bank city of Ramallah yesterday. PHOTO: AP

Palestinian Minister Mahmoud Abbas, increasingly unpopular and worn out by a power struggle with Yasser Arafat, submitted his resignation yesterday, dealing a serious blow to a US-backed peace plan.

The resignation of Abbas after just four turbulent months in office prompted a call for Arafat's expulsion by at least one senior Israeli official. Israel's government warned it would not accept a new government controlled by Arafat or one of his loyalists, but did not make clear what action it would take, if any.

There was some uncertainty as to whether the resignation was final. It also remained unclear whether the decision was only a tactical move by Abbas, designed to pressure Arafat.

Abbas, widely known as Abu Mazen, told parliament in a closed-door session yesterday that he would not change his mind about stepping down.

"Abu Mazen has made his decision," said Abdel Fatah Hamayel, a legislator from the ruling Fatah movement. "He's insisting it's a final decision."

Arafat initially said he had accepted the resignation. However, Arafat adviser Nabil Abu Rdeneh later said Arafat was still studying Abbas' letter, suggesting he might not accept the resignation.

If the resignation becomes final, Arafat would have three weeks to appoint a replacement, and in the meantime, Abbas and his Cabinet would serve as caretakers.

The US Department of State had no official comment.

Israeli Minister Ariel Sharon's office said in a statement that the resignation was an internal Palestinian matter, but that Israel "will not accept a state of affairs in which control over the Palestinian Authority reverts back to Yasser Arafat or one of his loyalists."

The statement did not say what action Israel might take.

Abbas' could lower the threshold for possible Israeli action against Arafat; Israel's defense minister has raised the possibility of sending Arafat into exile.

Abbas' departure would mean even greater uncertainty for the "road map" peace plan, already in serious trouble because of a major spike in violence in recent weeks and the collapse of a unilateral truce by militants.

With Abbas gone, Israel and the US would not have a negotiating partner, at least temporarily. The two nations shun Arafat, saying he is an obstacle to peacemaking.

US for Homeland Security Tom Ridge, speaking in Italy, said the resignation would delay efforts to get Israel and the Palestinians back to the negotiating table.

Israeli Cabinet Minister Danny Naveh yesterday called for Arafat's expulsion. "The state of Israel needs to ensure the security of its citizens, and the first step for that is expelling the terrorist Yasser Arafat," Naveh said in a statement.

Palestinian said they feared the resignation would lead the region into further chaos.