1.   The political clout of a minority group is not enhanced by racially isolating its leaders, even if their individual numbers in Congress slightly increase.

2.   But he also was due for a polite letdown in trying to isolate Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat from the United States.

3.   The Palestinian leader has been isolated by Israeli forces in his headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

4.   The Taliban have steadfastly refused to hand him over despite two rounds of United Nations sanctions that have cut off funds to the national airline and isolated Taliban leaders.

5.   The Taliban have steadfastly refused to deliver him despite two rounds of U.N. sanctions that have cut off funds to its national airline and isolated its leaders.

6.   The Taliban have steadfastly refused to hand him over despite two rounds of U.N. sanctions that have cut off funds to the national airline and isolated Taliban leaders.

7.   But violence has escalated since then, with Israeli forces isolating Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in his headquarters in the West Bank town of Ramallah.