Arafat will be succeeded by Abdullah

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In the final analysis Jordan is the real option for peace between us and the Arabs of Eretz Israel who call themselves Palestinians. It has been mentioned here that most of the citizens of Jordan are Palestinians, and that Jordan is located geographically in trans-Jordan. In fact, if we consider all of Palestine, all of Eretz Israel promised to us in the Balfour Declaration, only 24% of it is located on the west bank of the Jordan, while and 76% on the east bank.

However, I should like to make something quite clear: I am not interested in the fall of the Hashemite Kingdom. On the contrary, I think that it represents an asset for the State of Israel and without doubt we have a real interest in preserving it. I understand all those who are suspicious of Jordan being identified as Palestine, since temporarily this is liable to cause a grave response in Amman. But with proper handling, and with American aid, it will be possible to upgrade the Jordanian Kingdom, to reduce the terrible gap between their GNP and ours, and to give greater aid to Jordan in order to create a situation in which it will become the sole representative of the Palestinians.

Up to 1988 the Arabs of Judea and Samaria held Jordanian passports. A grave mistake was made by those in Israel who adopted the path of aiding the Palestinians to establish an independent state, and removed Jordan from the picture. There is no chance for such a state between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean: There is no infrastructure, no territorial continuity between Gaza and Judea and Samaria, neither an economic infrastructure nor any other kind of infrastructure.

Azmi Bashara is an intellectual cut off from the Moslem public. He comes here and says correctly, just as Zahalka and others said, that since the agreement was signed there is far more hatred of Israel in the Jordanian street. But this is not because of the Palestinian problem! This is an Islamic issue: Osama Bin-Laden represents a danger to all the Moslem states that are pro-Western. He threatens the regime in every country with a Moslem majority that has a Western orientation. Hatred for America is great both in Jordan and in Egypt. This problem must be coped with, but it is not related to the Palestinian one.

I should like to conclude on an optimistic note. Mr. Speaker, the world is a far better place since that evil genius, Yasser Arafat, left it. Yasser Arafat was without doubt a one-time icon that will not be replaced by a similar figure for the Palestinian public.

No-one in the world will succeed like Yasser Arafat in being on the one hand a person who is given credit by his own people, even when he winks to them and says in Arabic: Just wait a little, we shall finally achieve mosques and churches under a Palestinian flag. In the meantime, let me come to terms with the Israelis.

No-one in the world will be capable of being received with a red carpet in every European capital and also being the Che Guevara of all kinds of innocents who grew up in the same Communist universities as MKs Bashara and Mahul. On the other hand to give direct orders, including a minute payment - because most of the money didn't remain there, it's with Mrs. Suha - and to give a payment to murderers. This evil genius created the capability ever since in 1974 he broke off from Mahawatma and George Habash and adopted his sole program of stages, to become the most sophisticated enemy of the State of Israel. There will never be anyone like him.

The Almighty was benevolent to us and took Arafat from the world at a time when we have such a pitiful government, with a prime minister who has lost his ideology. In my opinion the time has come to understand that not only has Arafat gone. Sooner or later we shall see that there will develop amongst the Palestinians either a Hamas regime, that will be opposed by both the Left and the Right in Israel, or all kinds of minor local leaders lacking national recognition, each with his own small band of gangsters.

Consequently the Palestinian Authority will pass away. It will vanish far more rapidly than many people think, and the sole stable and serious partner that we should all support is King Abdullah, who will represent the Arabs living in Judea and Samaria. They will vote in Shechem and Ramallah for the parliament in Amman. In a confederation we shall reach understandings. The State of Israel will be sovereign from the Jordan River to the sea. This is not far off. It will come about.

It is a pity that the prime minister, who once understood this a little, has changed his spots and the government has lost its ideological leadership. But the Almighty will arrange things so that they will turn out properly.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.