Vote for a peaceful Palestine Landmark election: Arafat finally is given legitimacy and a mandate.

January 23, 1996

THE LANDSLIDE election of Yasser Arafat as president and of 88 council members gives legitimacy to the Palestinian Authority, which was established by agreement of Israel and the PLO. Mr. Arafat's Fatah faction will dominate the council. But that group will have real independents and oppositionists, some endorsed by the extremist group, Hamas, which declined to run its own slate. It will also include women.This was not a picture-perfect election. Since arriving in vTC Palestine, Mr. Arafat has shown authoritarian instincts, used secret police against critics and intimidated the press.