i cant think: The Death of Yasser Arafat

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November 04, 2004

The Death of Yasser Arafat

Well, not yet, but the signs are not good for the leader of the Palestinian people. The best reports I can find suggest he is being kept alive with artificial measures; in effect, brain dead.

His end has come fairly suddenly, it was just a two years ago he was defying the Israeli army with a pistol at his side as his compound in Ramallah was being destroyed. He was prepared for martyrdom then, but I do not think he was prepared to die in a French hospital bed.

He leaves behind a people who will have no true leader. The former Prime Minister, Mahmud Abbas, chaired the meeting today of the Palestine Liberation Organization, but this is no guarantee of Mr. Abbas taking over.

Mr. Arafat had demonstrated an unwillingness to cede power. At this time, only a portion of his powers are transferred to the current Prime Minister, Ahmed Qurie. Arafat's death will lead to a power vacuum in the occupied territories. Hopefully this will not lead to a civil war, although chances are high for violence.

Members of Fatah and Hamas are to meet to discuss security measures. The Israelis hope Arafat's death will bring a new start to dialog, but if members of Fatah and Hamas assume control this may be a bleak hope. The fighting in the land could escalate, possibly affecting U.S. policy in the region.

For a man who used violence and death as tools to maintain control over his people, it is ironic he dies in a peaceful fashion in a land far from his home. We can only hope that the Israeli and Palestinian people will use this chance to search for peace rather than the usual pattern of tit-for-tat killings.

Posted by pmcmahon at November 4, 2004 09:04 PM