Letter: Arafat has no interest in peace

Tuesday, May 28, 2002 | 8:51 a.m.

Unfortunately, it is not only those who forget history who are destined to repeat it, but even those who remember it must repeat what others either forget or choose to ignore. History is again repeating itself.

In the 1970 civil war in Jordan between Arafat's forces and those of the late King Hussein, Hussein offered Arafat a partnership in the Jordanian government, one in which Arafat would serve as prime minister.

Arafat refused because he was not interested in a Palestinian state living side by side with any other country, Arab or otherwise. Hussein declared war on Arafat's forces and Arafat fled with about 2,000 of his fighters first into Syria and later into Lebanon, where they were ultimately responsible for launching yet another bloody Arab civil war.

If Arafat were at all interested in a "Palestinian State" he would have accepted one of the opportunities he was given to have just that. That is not his intent. Arafat is a hypocrite, an oppressor and a bully.

Arafat's objective always has been and always will be to push Israel and the Jews into the sea. How has any government permitted a self-proclaimed terrorist to be elevated to the stature of a statesman?

How many more wars must Arafat instigate before the world sees him for who he is? There will never be peace if Arafat remains a required element of the process.

LISA D' ASUNTA