Palestinian Lawmakers Still Skeptical After Arafat Speech

Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat tried Saturday to appease lawmakers angered by alleged corruption and mismanagement in his government, but many came away disappointed by what they said were empty promises of reform.

Despite reports of ill health, the 68-year-old Palestinian leader appeared vigorous during his nearly two-hour speech, gesturing energetically and making a V-for-victory sign.

But the speech--and reaction to it--underscored the growing pressures he faces.

“None of us deny or ignore that mistakes have occurred,” Arafat said. But he insisted the performance of his Palestinian Authority was improving overall and stressed his willingness to make the necessary “adjustments.”

That wasn’t enough to satisfy lawmakers, who had threatened a no-confidence motion against Arafat last year but held off after he indicated he would shuffle the Cabinet and sign measures lawmakers had passed. Neither of those has happened.

“Unfortunately, we heard the same talk that we heard in the past,” Gaza lawmaker Ziad abu Amr said. “We had expected to hear a clear commitment to making requested changes.”

In a speech to his parliament’s new session, Arafat blamed Israel not only for the breakdown of the peace process but also for a wide range of other problems in the Palestinian lands, especially the flagging economy.

Flanked by Palestinian flags and a big portrait of himself, Arafat sought to place the blame for a variety of ills on the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He renewed warnings that the peace process is “about to breathe its last breath.”

“I am not exaggerating when I say that nothing is moving or making progress. Everything is backtracking or standing still,” he said.

He criticized Israel for what he said is a strangulation of the Palestinian economy by restricting workers’ travel to jobs in Israel.

“Israeli policy, using economic means, aims to take away our people’s ability to survive by choking our livelihood,” he said. “A deterioration in the Palestinian economic situation will touch the heart of peace and security in the region.”