Sharon was elected because Arafat wanted him to be. His predecessor was deliberately destroyed by Arafat's performance at Clinton's talks, and Barak said that the only alternative to Barak was a warmonger.

Arafat loves this war. Without a conflict to make him feel like a leader, he is nothing. Being holed up in a bunker is the best thing he could dream of. If Israel disappeared tomorrow, and the whole thing became a Palestinian state, Arafat would start a war with Lebanon or Syria.

People have to get a clue that this is not a war that will be stopped by signatures on paper. How many papers have already been signed?

Best bet would be to put a bullet between Arafat's eyes, and sit back to watch. Then maybe a Palestinian will shoot Sharon. Then Sharon's successor will shoot whatever fanatic replaces Arafat. Maybe pretty soon the Israeli and Palestinian people will be able to relax in their cafes and read in the papers about the slow decline in the number of fanatic politicians and the slow average increase in the IQ of the human race.

Sorry. Stitches hurting. Too cynical.