Palestine Authority President Yasser Arafat is coming under increasing pressure to adopt democratic reforms. In an important development, the traditionally passive Palestinian Parliament appears to have taken up the call for real change. Mr. Arafat has so far responded with his old tricks: talking a lot but promising only generalities. The political environment has changed, however: International pressures and growing disenchantment among Palestinians over Mr. Arafat's rule has reduced the wily old leader's room for maneuver.
Mr. Arafat is under intense fire. The Israeli government has turned the former globe-trotting guerrilla leader into a virtual prisoner within his own compound. Israeli forces have occupied large sections of Palestinian territory and have virtually destroyed the Palestinian Authority's infrastructure.
While few other governments have been willing to join Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in declaring Mr. Arafat "irrelevant" -- U.S. President George W. Bush is one -- they concede behind the scenes that the Palestinian leader has become an obstacle to peace in the Middle East and would welcome his replacement.