Yasser Arafat Endorses Kerry

Yasser Arafat endorses Kerry

Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat is hoping John Kerry wins the presidential election in November, several Palestinian leaders told WorldNetDaily. Arafat deputy and chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat told WND in an exclusive interview that while “we do not involve ourselves in internal American politics,” at the same time “our region has been sliding deeper and deeper into chaos because of certain policies over the past few years, and this needs to change.”

While he would not directly endorse Kerry, it was clear Erekat was implying the PA wants a change in White House leadership: “If things continue the way they are, if certain policies toward our region are maintained in the years to come, there is going to be a lot of violence on both sides.”

A prominent Arafat aide who asked that his name be withheld spoke to WorldNetDaily from Arafat’s battered Ramallah compound. “The president [Arafat] is frustrated with Bush’s policies,” he said. “The president [Arafat] thinks Kerry will be much better for the Palestinian cause and for the establishment of a Palestinian state.”

Another foreign leader for Kerry!

Of course, this isn’t surprising. Bush is incredibly pro-Israel and Arafat, well, isn’t. Even though Bush has endorsed the idea of a Palestinian state, it would be one without Arafat in charge–a position obviously not supported by Arafat. It’s not exactly clear to me what Kerry’s policy stance on the Israel-Palestinian conflict is, but it would almost certainly be more to Arafat’s liking.

FILED UNDER: 2004 Election, , , ,
James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. LJD says:

    LOL-

    I wonder if Kerry will include this in his next public address…

    Maybe we’ll get an “October surprise” where Bin Laden will issue a tape, endorsing Kerry for President!

  2. BigFire says:

    If Kerry won’t publicise this endorsement, perhaps Bush/Chenney04 should, in New York and Florida.

  3. McGehee says:

    The Democrats were looking for consolation after Putin endorsed Bush, so I guess they’re probably quite happy.

  4. Max Edison says:

    I believe nothing that WorldNetDaily says. They are proven liars. Let’s not play that old tired game, “My opponent is endorsed by this loony, etc.” So the crypto-fascist strongman Vladimir Putin is for George Bush’s re-election. They are big pals, don’t you know?

  5. James Joyner says:

    Max: The report seems credible enough. As explained in my post, Arafat would have to prefer almost anybody to Bush.

  6. McGehee says:

    LOL! Wizbang’s post on the Putin endorsement brought the naysayers out of the woodwork. Here, it just takes a comment.

    I’m lovin’ it.

  7. Talentscout says:

    Arafat wants his reserved parking place at the White House back. Wasn’t he the most frequent visitor, after Eleanor Mondale, to Bill from Hope?

  8. Jeff Miller says:

    The Clinton people destroyed our relationship with Russia over Checnyian rebels. Those rebels paid us well by using their pals in al-qaeda to attack us. Thank God Bush has repaired alot of the damage.