February 13, 1996
Web posted at: 3:30 p.m. EST (2030 GMT)
From Correspondent Walter Rodgers
WEST BANK (CNN) -- Last fall, in a trip to Washington, Yasser Arafat agreed he would try to eliminate references to Israel's destruction from the Palestinian National Charter.
For Arafat to succeed, he needs a two-thirds majority vote from the Palestinian National Council. But getting the approval may prove difficult, even for the popular Arafat, because Palestinian discontent over Israeli peace agreements is at an all-time high.
Nabil Shaath, a Palestinian council member, said the council will do its "best" to pass the amendment. But Shaath didn't promise an Arafat victory. (136K AIFF sound or 136K WAV sound)
Palestinians are divided as to whether the language should be repealed from the charter, which calls for the destruction of Israel. Recent polls show that at least half of all Palestinians are reluctant to change the charter until Israel allows them their own constitution and statehood.
But some Palestinians fear if they renege on this promise now, it could help elect Israeli hard-liners in upcoming Israeli elections.
Other Palestinians note that Israel already has broken its promise to release Palestinian prisoners and to resolve a number of other issues. These Palestinians believe Israel still holds them hostage. And they argue that if they amend the charter to please Israel, they will have given away Palestine's last bargaining chip.
Privately, Palestinian sources say Arafat has been working hard to persuade the Palestinian council to repeal the anti-Israel references.
But repeal or not, Arafat calls it a moot point. Arafat says he already changed the language of the charter in 1988, when he delivered a speech effectively acknowledging Israel's right to exist. (48K AIFF sound or 48K WAV sound) The speech earned Arafat U.S. recognition.
Other Palestinians agree, saying the peace agreements with Israel abolish earlier language calling for Israel's destruction.
"In the face of our commitment to peace, certainly the altering of the charter is irrelevant," said Haidar Abdel Shafi, a Palestinian council member.
Nonetheless, the council will make the ultimate decision.
Meanwhile, Israel, fearing suicide bombings by Islamic radicals on the 40-day anniversary of the assassination of Hammas bomb maker Yehiya Ayash, put its military on high security alert Tuesday. Most Palestinians didn't even try to get to work in Israel, and those who did were turned back. (441K QuickTime movie)
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