The White House today said that Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat’s speech today in Ramallah was “positive”.

In the speech Arafat set the rules for the continuing war against Israel -“We have announced in the past, and we reiterate in our announcement today, our rejection of all kinds of operations that target Israeli civilians ” – military targets (and in the past this has included high school students since they are “almost” in the army) and settlers remain fair game. It should be noted that it is typical of nations at war to claim that they do not intend to target the enemy’s civilian population – Arafat’s “positive” declaration goes no farther than that.

In addition, in the course of discussing the agreement he sought to reach with Israel, Arafat made several references to the Khudaibiya agreement (Israel Television Channel Two broadcast two instances – for some reason most reports of the speech ignored it). The Khudaibiya agreement was a 10-year peace treaty between Mohammed and the tribe of Qureish. After two years, when Mohammed had improved his military position, he tore up the agreement and slaughtered the Qureishites. Salab a-Din was the Muslim leader who, after a cease-fire, declared a jihad against the Crusaders and conquered Jerusalem.

Does Washington really think it is “positive” for Arafat, in gross violation of Oslo, to place restrictions only on attacks against Israeli civilians within the Green Line (and this only because it is bad PR)?

Does Washington think it is “positive” for Arafat to tell his people that he seeks a temporary deal with Israel to be trashed when the opportunity to destroy Israel presents itself?

And finally, when will Washington sit down and study the meaning of what Arafat says before jumping to applaud?

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