For the U.S.A., it financed suicidal attacks

Washington has information that Arafat authorized payments to a terrorist group

WASHINGTON. - The United States counts on intelligence information that it indicates that Yasser Arafat financed the extremist group that adjudged the suicidal attacks of the week last in Israel. That is the central reason that it took to president George W. Bush to demand to Palestinian a change of leadership like necessary condition for the creation of a Palestinian State.

Government American received information that Arafat authorized the payment of 20,000 dollars to the organization Brigades Martyrs of Al-Aqsa, branch of faction Al-Fatah which he took responsibility by the attacks in Jerusalem, which they left 26 and tens of wounded dead, indicated a high civil employee of the administration.

The sector lasts more of the government of Bush, represented by vice-president, Dick Cheney; the Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, and the adviser of National Security, Condoleezza Rice, was the one that impelled the policy of isolation of Arafat and endorsement to the actions of Israel. They always accused it to be it jeopardize with the terrorism or to make very little stop it.

The order of removal of Arafat took by surprise the Arab leaders, like the president of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, that was in Camp David with Bush less ago than two weeks and nothing listened on the matter, according to trusted Egyptian diplomats.

But, about whom the North American government thinks when a new leadership for the Palestinians protests?

In the administration nobody indicates a name to replace Arafat. They mention a process of total reform in the territories that back leave to the entailments with the terrorism and the corruption, and builds new institutions based on the democracy.

"there is nobody in mind", said to the NATION a civil employee of the American government who requested not to be identified.

The North American Colin, Secretary of State Powell, indicated in the last hours that the United States the Palestinian leadership will respect that arises from clean and free elections. But he did not manage to transmit in a radial news article the conviction of what he is what they will do if in those elections is chosen Arafat again. "We will see how it is the scene. We will deal with the circumstances when we find them ", responded.

President Bush exposed Monday his proposal to reach a peace accord in the middle East, based on the creation of a Palestinian State that will only be able to be reached, said, if there is a change of leadership. He is to say that he is not arranged to negotiate with Arafat.

The decision to cut the relations with the Palestinian leader also implied the revision of which it would be the North American policy after the awaited speech of Bush, who anticipated a mission immediate to the Middle East of Powell and the call to a peace conference. The two initiatives were congealed now.

Powell indicated yesterday that in April already she had indicated Arafat to him who was moving in the mistaken direction and that was time to make a strategic election for its town. "Unfortunately, that election was not done", indicated.

We supported the democracy, but the democracy is not in action in the Palestinian territories at this moment, insisted Powell. "We see corruption in the ANP, have not taken determining actions against the terrorist organizations. The class of necessary results has not been reached, not only after La Paz, but for the Palestinian town ", it indicated the holder of the Department of State.

An expert in Palestinian questions of the Brookings Institution, Khalil Shikaki, considers that the call of Bush only fortifies the position of Arafat. "we are not going to see any Palestinian that it takes the initiative and it says that Arafat must go away. There will be no a conspiracy against Arafat ", indicated in a seminary.

For that reason, one of the greater incognitos, than neither the civil employees of the Department of State nor those of the rest of the administration has been able to explain until the moment, is how the American government will act while Arafat continues being the Palestinian leader and until the elections are made, from now on predicted for January of the next year. Elections in which, now, the own Arafat will be candidate.