Power struggle between Abbas and Arafat ratchets up

JERUSALEM -- Deferring a showdown, the Palestinian parliament speaker on Wednesday temporarily blocked a confidence vote sought by Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas in his power struggle with Yasser Arafat.

At press time, Abbas was scheduled to address parliament Thursday to sum up his first 100 days in office, a period marked by somewhat reduced violence but also disappointment over a lack of movement in implementing the U.S.-backed "road map'' peace plan.

Abbas' report will be debated, but legislators said a confidence vote is not expected for at least another week. In the meantime, parliament will try to help end the wrangling between Arafat and Abbas over authority, particularly control of the security forces.

Israel has warned of dire consequences should Abbas be ousted, saying it will not do business with a government handpicked by Arafat. Several Palestinian legislators said they were told by local U.S. diplomats that with Abbas gone, Washington might lower its profile as Mideast mediator.

Abbas has told a senior Palestinian official he wants Thursday's debate to be followed by a confidence vote, but has not made a formal request. Abbas has declined public comment, spending most of Wednesday sequestered at his office.

Winning parliament's support would help Abbas in his confrontation with Arafat, who is accused by Israel of fomenting terrorism. Defeat would allow him to step down without being blamed for the consequences, such as the possible collapse of the road map.

The ongoing deadlock indicates that each man needs the other. The international support enjoyed by Abbas helps shield Arafat from possible Israeli action, such as expulsion. Abbas, in turn, needs Arafat to provide legitimacy for his government among Palestinians.

"They depend on each other, kind of like an old couple that can't stand each other, but can't live apart,'' said Israeli analyst Mark Heller.

Palestinian Parliament Speaker Ahmed Qureia said Wednesday that parliament should not be dragged into the Arafat-Abbas struggle. "Parliament will not accept being turned into a place of conflict or to be part of the current crisis,'' Qureia said.

The speaker said there is no need, for now, to hold a confidence vote in parliament because Abbas already won the legislators' confidence when his appointment was affirmed in April.

However, parliament will hold another session next Wednesday, and if Arafat and Abbas have not reached a power-sharing agreement by then, a confidence vote might be held, legislators said.

The power struggle between Abbas and Arafat has intensified in recent weeks.

Abbas, with the backing of the United States and Israel, demands that Arafat relinquish control of four security branches; Abbas commands the other four security services. Arafat has balked, fearing he would lose his main source of power.

Israel and the United States want Abbas to crack down on Hamas and other militant groups, as required by the road map. Israel's Cabinet decided earlier this week to freeze implementation of the road map until Abbas orders a clampdown.

Abbas has been outspoken in his criticism of the militants' anti-Israel violence. But although he and his security chief, Mohammed Dahlan, have taken some measures, including freezing the bank accounts of Islamic charities with alleged links to Hamas, it remains unclear whether they would order a full crackdown even if given control of all security services.

Ahead of the parliament session, Israel sent strong warnings to the Palestinians.

Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said Israel will not negotiate with an Arafat-controlled government, and Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz warned Tuesday that Israel may have to expel Arafat soon if he keeps getting in the way of the road map.

Mofaz spoke several days after Israeli security officials again reviewed a possible expulsion, and came to the conclusion that at present it would cause more damage than benefit. Over the weekend, Israel's vice premier, Ehud Olmert, said another option is to isolate Arafat completely at his headquarters in the West Bank town of Ramallah, as Israel has done in the past.

Israel Army Radio reported that the United States has asked Israel for a clarification following Mofaz's expulsion comments.

An official at the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Arafat is considered "part of the problem, not the solution,'' but that Washington does not want him expelled.

Several Palestinian legislators said privately that U.S. diplomats have cautioned them against sending Abbas home.

Chuck Hunter, a spokesman for the U.S. consulate in Jerusalem, declined comment on whether phone calls have been placed to Palestinian legislators. "Having said that, Abu Mazen [Abbas] is someone the [U.S.] president can work with and looks forward to continuing to work with,'' Hunter said.