Those in the know say that Fuad Shobaki, who handled financial transactions for Arafat, is a key player in the current situation. Like Al Capone's tax preparer, Shobaki has the goods on Arafat, and everyone knows it.

I figured Shobaki had two ways to go: either the Palestinians would free him (he's one of the six prisoners turned over in return for Arafat's freedom) or he would have an "accident."

Looks like it's going to be number one, at least for now.

To break the deadlock at Arafat's headquarters, the two sides agreed to allow six wanted Palestinians to be transported to a Palestinian jail in Jericho to be guarded by U.S. and British wardens. British officials confirmed Friday that the imprisonment would be supervised by a former commander of Maze prison, a notorious lockup in Northern Ireland that held many IRA fighters.



But some Palestinian officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Friday they expected that two of the six will be freed soon.

The officials said that under the U.S. deal, the fate of Ahmed Saadat and Fuad Shobaki was left in the hands of the Palestinian legal system.

Israeli officials disputed the claim, saying they were assured by the United States that Saadat and Shobaki would remain locked up as a condition for freeing Arafat.

U.S. Embassy officials in Tel Aviv declined comment on whether the United States would permit their release. However, officials close to the negotiations said parts of the deal had been left purposely vague to allow for a quick agreement on getting Arafat released from Israeli confinement.

Israel had initially demanded the extradition of Saadat, leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), and Shobaki, a senior Arafat aide. Israel accuses Saadat of masterminding the assassination of Israeli Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi in October, and alleges Shobaki financed a large shipment of illegal weapons.



Freeing these two guys would be a major poke in the eye to both Israel and the U.S., who would wind up looking like dupes after an Arafat doublecross. Yet again. But if Shobaki talks, Arafat is political dead meat. Should be interesting.