Palestinians apprehensive

PALESTINIANS yesterday followed reports on Ariel Sharon’s condition with a mix of apprehension and glee, while some officials said they feared the dramatic events would derail January 25 parliament elections in the West Bank and Gaza.

Despite his pull-out from Gaza last year, Mr Sharon is still widely reviled in the Arab world for his tough actions against Palestinians.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said he is following Mr Sharon’s health crisis “with great worry” but said it would not derail Palestinian balloting.

Mr Abbas is under pressure to postpone elections likely to batter his ruling Fatah party.

He had threatened to cancel the balloting if Israel carried through a threat to bar voting in Jerusalem.

If interim Israeli leader Ehud Olmert puts off a decision on Jerusalem, the election will not go ahead, Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat signalled yesterday.

A Hamas spokesman, Mushir al-Masri, said he foresaw a change for the better if Mr Sharon were to exit the political stage.

But ordinary Palestinians were divided over whether Mr Sharon was Israel’s greatest villain or their best chance for peace.

“Sharon went a long way down the path to peace, and he is the only Israeli leader capable of making peace with the Palestinians,” said Jalal Salman, a spokesman for An-Najah University in Nablus.

In the Gulf, news about Mr Sharon competed with prayers for Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the emir of Dubai, who died on Wednesday.

A Palestinian commentator on Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya network offered Mr Sharon unexpected praise for Israel’s Gaza withdrawal.

“A live Sharon is better for the Palestinians now, despite all the crimes he has committed against us,” said Ghazi al-Saadi.