UN Middle East envoy Terje Roed-Larsen surprised everyone yesterday with harsh criticisms of his former buddy Yasser Arafat.

In return, the nutjobs who rule the Palestinian Authority are blowing a gasket, demanding that Kofi Annan slap Larsen on the wrist, and ranting that Larsen is ‘not welcome’ in the Palestinian territories.

GAZA CITY (AFP) - The UN Middle East envoy Terje Roed-Larsen is “not welcome in Palestinian lands” following his criticism of Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian leader’s top aide said.

“Mr Larsen’s declarations at the (UN) Security Council are unacceptable and he is not welcome in Palestinian lands,” Nabil Abu Rudeina told AFP.

He also said Larsen’s statements were “inaccurate and biased.”

Roed-Larsen told the UN Security Council on Tuesday there was a “steadily emerging chaos” in Palestinian areas and that Arafat had shown a “lack of political will” to reform his government. “The paralysis of the Palestinian Authority has become abundantly clear, and the deterioration of law and order in Palestinian areas is steadily worsening,” Roed-Larsen said in the monthly council briefing.

“This collapse of authority cannot be attributed only to the Israeli incursions and operations inside Palestinian towns. The Palestinian Authority is in deep distress and is in real danger of collapse,” he said.

He added that Arafat had given “only nominal and partial support” to Egyptian efforts to reform Palestinian security services, called for under the internationally backed “roadmap” for Middle East peace. …

Abu Rudeina further criticized Larsen for speaking out at a time when “there is an unfair campaign launched by dubious circles as Palestinians are heading towards victory at the International Court of Justice.” …

Abu Rudeina finally called on UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to “look into Larsen’s behavior” and suggested that he dispatch “neutral envoys.”