Yasser Arafat 1929 - 2004
Yasser Arafat, President of the Palestinian Authority, died in a Paris military hospital. He was 75 years old. He has led the Palestinian Authority since about the time of the Oslo Accords. His refusal to anoint a successor leaves the remain members of the Palestinian Authority to jockey for position.
Arafat was the acknowledged leader of all Palestinians but he was a leader in name only. When peace proposals were made by the international community or the Israelis, he said all the right things but followed through on none. He seemed to relish the role of Palestinian leader, but refused to lead. He left many Palestinians in refugee camps with limited access to water and no sewage system - a recipe for both disease and hopelessness that has led many young Palestinians to opt to becoming suicide bombers. Arafat's used none of his political capital to better the lives of the Palestinians he claimed to lead. He took no risks when it came to building an independent Palestinian State. He seemed to be more interested in the trappings of leadership and never once appeared to take a chance at moving towards a Palestinian State. He may have shown courage when leading the PLO. It is easy to be courageous with a gun in your hand. As a political leader he never showed that courage, never took risks. He seemed to fear losing his political position and for this he should be forever blamed.
Arafat will be remembered by Palestinians as their leader, perhaps until a real Palestinian leader emerges from the political chaos his death has left behind.
11/11/04 ( 453 )
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