Reply #55: Ultimately (and sadly) Arafat was more interested in building his power base than in building a

[ProgressiveMuslim]

country. We actually moved back in 1995, and observed first-hand the corruption. For example, there was a ton of building going on. The PA would award *one* company with the contract to import concrete. They were more concerned with lining their pockets than in building an economy. But even then, since there was no rule of law, no free press... what could one upset individual do?

That's my biggest beef with the Oslo negotiations. They undercut the work of the local leaders who had been building the frameworks of democratic institutions.

I often wonder why Israel engaged in this with the Palestinians? If the goal is a stable neighbor, why bring in a corrupt dictator?

It was against the backdrop of 10 years of this kind of corruption that Hamas won the last elections. They didn't campaign on "kassams" they campaigned (rightly) against corruption. TPTB in Israel and the US made certain they never had a chance to govern.

Be all that as it may, it's still necessary for Palestinians to face is square on, dust themselves off, and start over.