Changes

After 1973 [[Yom Kippur War]] the Arabs concluded that destruction of Israel cannot be achieved in one strike. As a result, the PLO under Arafat adopted in 1974 a political program called the phased strategy. The phased strategy called on the "Palestinians" to establish control over any part of "Palestine" (i.e. Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip) even if other parts of it remained under Israeli control, with the ultimate intention of taking over the entirety of "Palestine" (i.e. destroying the state of Israel)<ref name="Karsh">[http://www.meforum.org/605/arafats-grand-strategy Arafat’s Grand Strategy]</ref>

After 1973 [[Yom Kippur War]] the Arabs concluded that destruction of Israel cannot be achieved in one strike. As a result, the PLO under Arafat adopted in 1974 a political program called the phased strategy. The phased strategy called on the "Palestinians" to establish control over any part of "Palestine" (i.e. Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip) even if other parts of it remained under Israeli control, with the ultimate intention of taking over the entirety of "Palestine" (i.e. destroying the state of Israel)<ref name="Karsh">[http://www.meforum.org/605/arafats-grand-strategy Arafat’s Grand Strategy]</ref>

Approximately at the same time, Romania’s Communist president Nicolae Ceausescu taught Arafat how to pretend to be a moderate and against terrorism while simultaneously commissioning terrorist operations (to be committed by groups not publicly affiliated with Arafat) and working towards Israel’s destruction.<ref>[http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Columnists/Article.aspx?id=178729 Musing on skillful salami-slices]</ref> Similar advice was also being given by the Vietnamese.<ref name="Bodansky">[http://www.acpr.org.il/publications/policy-papers/pp018-xs.html Arafat’s “Peace Process”]</ref>

Approximately at the same time, Romania’s Communist president Nicolae Ceausescu taught Arafat how to pretend to be a moderate and against terrorism while simultaneously commissioning terrorist operations (to be committed by groups not publicly affiliated with Arafat) and working towards Israel’s destruction.<ref>[https://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Columnists/Article.aspx?id=178729 Musing on skillful salami-slices]</ref> Similar advice was also being given by the Vietnamese.<ref name="Bodansky">[http://www.acpr.org.il/publications/policy-papers/pp018-xs.html Arafat’s “Peace Process”]</ref>

In a 1988 press conference in Geneva Arafat made statements renouncing terrorism and embracing Israel’s right to exist.<ref>[http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Foreign%20Relations/Israels%20Foreign%20Relations%20since%201947/1984-1988/419%20Statement%20by%20Yasser%20Arafat-%2014%20December%201988 Statement by Yasser Arafat, 14 December 1988]</ref> However, the statements he and other members of the "Palestinian" leadership made when speaking toward Arab and Muslim audiences were very different. In the very same year when Arafat supposedly accepted Israel’s right to exist, his deputy Salah Khalaf expressed his commitment to the phased strategy: "This is a state for the coming generations. At first, [the Palestinian state] would be small ... [But] God willing, it would expand eastward, westward, northward, and southward ... [True,] I [once] wanted all of Palestine all at once. But I was a fool. Yes, I am interested in the liberation of Palestine, but the question is how. And the answer is Step by step."<ref>[https://www.haaretz.com/news/arab-israeli-conflict-the-lesser-evil-1.6721 Arab-Israeli Conflict/The lesser evil - Haaretz]</ref> Until the end of his life, Arafat and his entourage played a game of doublespeak, expressing support for peace and coexistence when speaking to Israeli and western audiences while calling for terrorism and Israel’s destruction when speaking to Arabs and Muslims.<ref name="Karsh" />

In a 1988 press conference in Geneva Arafat made statements renouncing terrorism and embracing Israel’s right to exist.<ref>[http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Foreign%20Relations/Israels%20Foreign%20Relations%20since%201947/1984-1988/419%20Statement%20by%20Yasser%20Arafat-%2014%20December%201988 Statement by Yasser Arafat, 14 December 1988]</ref> However, the statements he and other members of the "Palestinian" leadership made when speaking toward Arab and Muslim audiences were very different. In the very same year when Arafat supposedly accepted Israel’s right to exist, his deputy Salah Khalaf expressed his commitment to the phased strategy: "This is a state for the coming generations. At first, [the Palestinian state] would be small ... [But] God willing, it would expand eastward, westward, northward, and southward ... [True,] I [once] wanted all of Palestine all at once. But I was a fool. Yes, I am interested in the liberation of Palestine, but the question is how. And the answer is Step by step."<ref>[https://www.haaretz.com/news/arab-israeli-conflict-the-lesser-evil-1.6721 Arab-Israeli Conflict/The lesser evil - Haaretz]</ref> Until the end of his life, Arafat and his entourage played a game of doublespeak, expressing support for peace and coexistence when speaking to Israeli and western audiences while calling for terrorism and Israel’s destruction when speaking to Arabs and Muslims.<ref name="Karsh" />

==Camp David peace talks and the second Intifada==

==Camp David peace talks and the second Intifada==

In July 2000 peace talks between Arafat and then Israeli Prime Minister [[Ehud Barak]] were held in Camp David. The talks’ ultimate goal was to reach a final settlement on the Israeli-"Palestinian" conflict.<ref>[http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Peace/cd2000art.html Camp David 2000 – Jewish Virtual Library]</ref> The Israelis offered him a "Palestinian" state on 100% of the Gaza Strip, 95% of the West Bank and joint control over Jerusalem. Due to the fact that Israeli was not willing to give all the "Palestinian" territories and agree to the right of return, Arafat rejected the offer.<ref>[http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/14821/why-did-arafat-refuse-offer-he-can-t-refuse/ Why did Arafat refuse ‘offer he can’t refuse’?]</ref> Two months later, in September 2000, he launched the Al-Aqsa intifada, a campaign of terrorism against Israeli. While "Palestinians" have often tried to present the intifada as a spontaneous uprising against Israel which resulted from [[Ariel Sharon|Sharon]]’s visit to the temple mount, truth of the matter it was planned in advance by the Palestinian Authority, as several figures the leadership have disclosed, and the preparations for an armed confrontation with Israel were evident even before the Intifada started.<ref>[http://www.camera.org/index.asp?x_context=7&x_issue=42&x_article=1403 Wall Street Journal Ignores Palestinians' Admissions, Blames Israel - Camera]</ref> His Tanzim militia played a key role in carrying attacks against Israeli.<ref name="Tanzim" />

In July 2000 peace talks between Arafat and then Israeli Prime Minister [[Ehud Barak]] were held in Camp David. The talks’ ultimate goal was to reach a final settlement on the Israeli-"Palestinian" conflict.<ref>[http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Peace/cd2000art.html Camp David 2000 – Jewish Virtual Library]</ref> The Israelis offered him a "Palestinian" state on 100% of the Gaza Strip, 95% of the West Bank and joint control over Jerusalem. Due to the fact that Israeli was not willing to give all the "Palestinian" territories and agree to the right of return, Arafat rejected the offer.<ref>[http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/14821/why-did-arafat-refuse-offer-he-can-t-refuse/ Why did Arafat refuse ‘offer he can’t refuse’?]</ref> Two months later, in September 2000, he launched the Al-Aqsa intifada, a campaign of terrorism against Israeli. While "Palestinians" have often tried to present the intifada as a spontaneous uprising against Israel which resulted from [[Ariel Sharon|Sharon]]’s visit to the temple mount, truth of the matter it was planned in advance by the Palestinian Authority, as several figures the leadership have disclosed, and the preparations for an armed confrontation with Israel were evident even before the Intifada started.<ref>[http://www.camera.org/index.asp?x_context=7&x_issue=42&x_article=1403 Wall Street Journal Ignores Palestinians' Admissions, Blames Israel - Camera]</ref> His Tanzim militia played a key role in carrying attacks against Israeli.<ref name="Tanzim" />

In addition to ordering his own men to engage in terrorist attacks, Arafat also instructed Hamas a to commit terrorist operations against Israel.<ref>[http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?ID=189549&R=R1 Arafat ordered Hamas attacks against Israel in 2000]</ref> Arafat also tried to incite Arab residents of Israel to join his terroristic campaign.<ref>[http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Peace/inciteletter.html Arafat Letter Incites Israeli Arabs Against Israel]</ref>

In addition to ordering his own men to engage in terrorist attacks, Arafat also instructed Hamas a to commit terrorist operations against Israel.<ref>[https://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?ID=189549&R=R1 Arafat ordered Hamas attacks against Israel in 2000]</ref> Arafat also tried to incite Arab residents of Israel to join his terroristic campaign.<ref>[http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Peace/inciteletter.html Arafat Letter Incites Israeli Arabs Against Israel]</ref>

As a means to encourage suicide bombings Arafat offered money to the families of suicide bombers. In 2001, Arafat paid $2,000 to the family of a "Palestinian" [[homicide bomber]] who attacked the beach front Dolphinarium dance club in [[Tel Aviv]], [[kill]]ing 21 [[people]], mostly teenagers. More than 120 people were injured. Arafat sent the terrorist’s father a letter praising his son’s murderous act.<ref>[http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=40455 WorldNetDaily]</ref>

As a means to encourage suicide bombings Arafat offered money to the families of suicide bombers. In 2001, Arafat paid $2,000 to the family of a "Palestinian" [[homicide bomber]] who attacked the beach front Dolphinarium dance club in [[Tel Aviv]], [[kill]]ing 21 [[people]], mostly teenagers. More than 120 people were injured. Arafat sent the terrorist’s father a letter praising his son’s murderous act.<ref>[http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=40455 WorldNetDaily]</ref>