JERUSALEM — By calling for sweeping reforms, Palestinian President Yasser Arafat has sought to pull the rug from under the feet of critics unhappy with his leadership during the conflict with Israel.

But political analysts say the real test for Arafat now lies in whether he carries out genuine reforms rather than cosmetic changes, and whether he can introduce changes that please all of the many sides making often contradictory calls for reforms.

It will be a tough task pleasing Palestinians eager to see an effective strategy to end Israeli occupation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and at the same time defusing US and Israeli pressure on him to make political concessions.

Palestinians want real reforms to make Arafat's Palestinian Authority more attentive to their dire needs. But many say promises of reform have been made before and worry that Arafat might bring about only minimal changes to improve his image.

"He (Arafat) is trying to absorb many critical feelings in Palestinian society and at the same time trying to deal in an open and flexible manner to avoid dangers and pressure — not only internal ones but external ones as well," political analyst Ghassan al-Khatib said.

"The main test is the kind of reforms and changes that he intends to bring about. These reforms could be cosmetic or they could be positive ones."

Manuel Hassassian, professor of political science at Bethlehem University, said the timing of the call for reforms in a speech to the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), or parliament, was crucial as demands intensified on all sides.

"I think the timing for introducing political reforms is important, not because these are considered as certain demands by Israelis and Americans, but because it has been a Palestinian demand as well — especially from people in the mainstream and moderates in Palestinian society," he said.

Arafat's popularity rose after Israel confined him to his Ramallah headquarters during a sweeping offensive launched in the West Bank in late March after a wave of Palestinian suicide attacks during an uprising against Israeli occupation.

But when he emerged, he faced a host of demands for reforms from within the Palestinian community and from abroad, including from the United States.

Unhappy with a breakdown in some public services and the failure of security forces to protect civilians against the Israeli forces, demands have intensified for new blood in Arafat's administration to make it stronger.

Arafat gave few details in his speech but called for the separation of the three branches of government — the legislative, judiciary and executive.

He called for elections, but set no date and did not specify what elections he had in mind. He said mistakes had been made, but did not say what they were. He did not make clear whether reforms would have to wait until after the elections.

His vagueness left people guessing about his intentions.

"Yasser Arafat's words are positive. What is important, and what the president (George W. Bush) will await to see, is whether there is any action," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer told reporters.

Ismail Abu Shanab, a senior member of the militant Islamic movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip, took a similar wait-and-see approach but made clear he did not want change that would make the Palestinian Authority any more pliant towards Israel.

Israel wants a new Palestinian leadership that would be ready to crack down on militants and more open to resuming of peace talks on Israel's terms. — Reuters