11 November 2004

by Anai Rhoads

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Veriana Media - The leader of Palestine, Yasser Arafat, died in the French Percy military hospital in Paris early Thursday morning at the age of 75 after being on life support for several days.

"He closed his eyes and his big heart stopped. He left for God but he is still among this great people," said senior Arafat aide Tayeb Abdel Rahim as he announced Arafat's death.

Arafat was flown to Clamart, outside of Paris, on 29 October after complaining of weakness and general ill health. Within days, Arafat slipped into a coma and was put on life support.

His trip out of Palestine was the first in three years. Arafat's compound in Ramallah was his only safe haven from Israel's retaliation against him over suicide bomb attacks.

Arafat requested that he be buried in Islam's third holiest shrine, Al Aqsa Mosque, in Jerusalem. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon refused to honour this request, leaving the Palestinians to compromise his burial to his compound in Ramallah. Several days ago workers began clearing the rubble around the compound to await his body.

His remains will be flown by helicopter to the Muqata compound for his burial in a mausoleum on Friday. Israel has made it clear that troops will be on hand to prevent anyone but those specified on the guest list to attend Arafat's funeral.

Israel had laid continuous siege to Yasser Arafat's Ramallah headquarters.

For nearly 40 years, Arafat led Palestine despite countless assassination attempts and Israeli attacks on Palestinian soil.

Arafat founded Al Fatah (the victory through Jihad) in the late 1950s, a movement to retain full independence for Palestinians via direct military confrontation to win back land considered stolen during Partition in 1947. He then quickly rose to the chairmanship of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) in 1969.

Arafat had said he denounced the use of terrorism and had recognised the State of Israel as part of the 1993 Oslo Accords. However, many believed he continued to permit and encourage terrorism against Israelis even in his final days.

The Israeli and U.S. governments had cast much of the blame on Arafat for the failure of the peace process.

United States President George W. Bush made clear what should follow Arafat's confirmed death. Days before Arafat's passing, Bush told reporters during a press conference that he expects Palestine to have elections 60 days upon Arafat's passing according to Palestinian law.

In a statement released by the White house, Bush said, "During the period of transition that is ahead, we urge all in the region and throughout the world to join in helping make progress toward these goals and toward the ultimate goal of peace."

British Prime Minister Tony Blair released his own statement at Parliament in London, "What I will do is stress again the importance of the Middle East peace process, that together with bringing democracy in Afghanistan and Iraq are the most important things we can do."

Upon hearing confirmation of Arafat's passing, thousands took to the streets in Palestine to mourn. In a customary expression of grief, bonfires were lit and men with guns aimed at the sky could be found all along the Gaza strip.

In order to prevent outbreaks of chaos, the PLO elected former Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas to sit as interim chief until a permanent replacement can be found. Legislature also swore in Parliament Speaker Rauhi Fattouh as temporary leader of the Palestinian Authority until final elections.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath is requesting that Sharon continue to honour the U.S.-supported "road map to peace" plan, and hopes Arafat's death does not give Sharon permission to delay Israel's plans to withdraw.

©2004 Anai Rhoads. Reproduction must be authorised in writing only, and altering the material and this copyright is prohibited and protected by international law.